Draft decision and conditions

On 11 March 2026, the Ashbourne expert panel issued Minute 23 releasing its draft decision and conditions.

The expert panel proposes to decline the retirement village component and part of the residential development proposed to be located on highly productive land.

The expert panel proposes to grant most of the residential zone (subject to amendments), both solar farms and the greenway.

Minute 23 of the expert panel (PDF, 144KB)

Proposed draft decision for the Ashbourne application (PDF, 1.7MB)

Appendices

Declining approvals under section 69 of the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024

Under section 69 of the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024 (the Act), if an expert panel proposes to decline an approval, they must first invite the applicant to respond. The applicant may do so by:

  • proposing conditions on, or modifications to, any of the approvals sought; or

  • withdrawing the part of the substantive application that seeks any of the approvals sought.

The panel set a deadline of close of business on 18 March 2026 for receiving this response.

Comments under section 70 of the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024

Under section 70 of the Act, an expert panel must invite comments on the draft conditions from:

  • the applicant

  • every person or group that provided comments under section 35 or 53

  • any local authority or other body with a statutory responsibility to enforce or monitor compliance with the conditions.

The panel must also issue the panel’s draft decision document for each approval in accordance with section 70(2)(b).

The panel set a deadline of 5:00pm on 18 March 2026 for receiving this response.

The panel also set a deadline of 5:00pm on 25 March 2026 for the applicant to respond to comments received under section 70.

Comments under section 72 of the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024

Under section 72 of the Act, an expert panel must also invite comments on the draft decision, including any draft conditions, from:

  • the Minister for Māori Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti

  • the Minister for Māori Development.

The panel set a deadline of 5:00pm on 25 March 2026 for receiving this response.