The Thames-Coromandel District Council is advising locals the district plan hearings on ‘Variation 1 - Natural Character' will now take place on February 25-26.

Along with the date change, the venue for the hearing will also be moved to the Thames War Memorial Civic Centre on Mary Street, and will start at 9am.

Council says the hearing has been re-scheduled to comply with statutory timeframes and to allow submitters extra time to prepare and pre-circulate evidence.

All evidence should also be provided to the District Plan Coordinator prior to February 18.

'If you intend to present evidence in support of your submission to the District Plan Hearings Panel then please contact the District Plan Coordinator,” asks council.

'For those of you who had already booked a speaking time, we will be in touch to arrange an alternative date and time.

'We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience that the change of date may have caused.”

The original hearing had been scheduled to take place at council's chambers in Thames on February 16-18.

For more information on the District Plan Hearings Panel and Variation 1 - Natural Character visit the Thames-Coromandel District Council's website at www.tcdc.govt.nz/hearings