Draft Master Plan engagement

Master Planning is a strategic planning exercise that looks to provide options and opportunities for the short, medium and long term future of the greater Westport area.  

Led by Buller District Council, with funding from Resilient Westport, the Master Planning process aims to guide the development of areas of land for future use, creating greater choice for the community around lower-risk areas. 

If you would like to learn more about what’s in the Draft Plan there’s plenty of information below that summarises the Plan and the process to date.

If you would like to tell us what you think you can go to the Let’s Talk page and fill out our quick survey.

The document ‘Cutting Our Own Track – the Westport Concept Framework’ has been developed by urban design experts Isthmus to explain how it might be possible for Westport – facing its own unique opportunities and challenges – to move toward a stronger, safer, more prosperous future.  

Now it is time for the Buller community to share its thoughts on what is contained in the Draft Plan.  

Feedback can be provided between 10 February and 10 March 2025 via the online submission form or paper forms can be found at: 

  • Resilient Westport office at 147 Palmerston Street, Westport (during drop-in times), the Buller District Council Westport service centre or the Sue Thomson Casey Memorial Library in Westport. 

  • Frequently Asked Questions

    There’s a lot of content in the Draft Plan and to make it a bit easier to understand we’ve come up with some FAQs to help break it down a bit.

    Please feel free to email us if there are more things you would like to know (or pop into one of our community drop-in sessions)

    Frequently Asked Questions

  • Cutting our own track

    The document ‘Cutting Our Own Track – the Westport Concept Framework’ has been developed by urban design experts Isthmus to explain how it might be possible for Westport – facing its own unique opportunities and challenges – to move toward a stronger, safer, more prosperous future.  

    You will see how we arrived at the Draft Master Plan, why we believe it is needed, what cutting our own path could look like and how this could be realised.  

    Read Cutting our own Track here

  • Design Week summaries

    Design weeks or local stakeholder workshops were held between April and November 2024.

    More than 150 people participated over the 8-month period.

    The summaries below give you a glimpse of what was discussed and how the work contributed to the Draft Master Plan currently open for engagment.

    Design week one

    Design week two

    Design week three

    Design week four

    Design week five

  • Draft Master Plan in a nutshell

    This abridged version aims to provide a snapshot of the Conceptual Framework underpinning the Draft Master Plan.

    Conceptual Framework - in a nutshell
  • Master Planning community drop-ins

    Master Planning community drop-ins

    We’re holding extra drop-in sessions throughout the engagement period for people to come in and chat about the plan, ask questions and complete the survey if they choose.

    Drop-in times from 10 February to 10 March are:  

     Tuesdays: 12pm – 2pm 
     Wednesdays: 5pm – 7pm 
     Saturdays: 10am – 12pm 

    Location: Resilient Westport Office 
    147 Palmerston Street, Westport (the old BNZ building) 

    There will be 20-minute presentations on the hour. 

  • Let's Talk

    The Buller District Council’s Let’s Talk

    site is where you will find the Draft Master Plan survey. Click here or the button below to go through and share your thoughts with us.

    Let's Talk

  • Online:

    You will find the survey on the Let’s Talk website (letstalk.bullerdc.govt.nz) from 9am Monday 10 February.

    A paper copy of the form can be found at the Resilient Westport office at 147 Palmerston Street, Westport (during drop-in times)

    Forms will also be at the Buller District Council Westport service centre or the Sue Thomson Casey Memorial Library in Westport. 

    The feedback period ends at 10 March 2025. We look forward to hearing your thoughts.

    • The results of the feedback will be processed in March.

    • After that the Master Planning Concept Plan will be completed.

    • It will require approval by the Buller District Council (March/April).

    • The final Stage of the Master Planning process will be implementation.

    • A number of mechanisms can be used to implement the Master Plan, including a Special Purpose Vehicle, supporting legislation, land-use change applications and other mechanisms to assist in the delivery of the plan over time.

    • Yes, but we ask that there is only one survey form completed per person.

    • We would love to hear from everybody - those who live in Westport, the surrounding areas and further afield.

    • This Draft Plan is important for Buller’s future development as well as those who are more directly impacted.

  • You can read the full media release on the engagement here.