Public notification
After you have lodged your application a decision will be made on who needs to have an opportunity to comment on it. This is called notification.
The three types of notification are;
- non-notified
- limited notified
- notified
Non-notified applications
Our staff may recommend that your application is processed without public notification if:
- we consider that your proposed activity is likely to cause only minor effects and;
- you have already obtained the written approval from those parties who may be adversely affected by the activity (which may include neighbouring property owners)
Limited notified applications
If your proposed activity will have only a minor effect on the environment, but you have not obtained the written approval of the people who may be adversely affected by your proposed activity, then your application will proceed through a limited notification process.
People who the Council considers may be adversely affected by the proposed activity, are given the opportunity to make a submission on your application. Only those people who have been given notice of your application may make a submission.
If a submitter opposes your application, then our staff will usually attempt to help resolve issues at a "pre-hearing meeting".
If the issues can't be resolved to our satisfaction, the application will proceed to a formal hearing before a Regional Council Hearings Committee. They will make a decision after weighing up evidence from:
- the applicant,
- the submitters, and;
- recommendations from our staff
Notified applications
If your proposed activity could have a more than minor effect on the environment, your application will be processed on a notified basis. A notified application is one which is advertised for submissions from the public.
Notification includes:
- an advertisement in a local newspaper,
- in many cases a notice will also be placed at the physical site the application relates to,
- affected parties e.g. adjoining neighbours, will be sent a letter notifying them of the proposal.
This process ensures that people who may be affected by your proposed activity have the opportunity to take part in the decision-making process and make a submission on your application.
Similar to the limited notification process, if a submitter opposes your application, then our staff will usually attempt to help resolve issues at a "pre-hearing meeting". If the issues can't be resolved, the application will proceed to a formal hearing before a Regional Council Hearings Committee.