The consent process
Resource consent applications take 20 working days, provided all the necessary information is provided, and your proposed project does not need to be notified.
An application will follow one of three procedures:
- non-notified;
- limited notified; or
- publicly notified.
A resource consent application will follow the process outlined below. Depending on your particular case, some stages may not be required.
Stage 1: Consult the people who may be affected
Consultation involves having a discussion with anyone who might be affected by the work you plan to do. This can include your neighbours, Māori groups, environmental groups, other users of the resource and the Department of Conservation.
Consultation involves hearing concerns about your proposal and genuinely seeking ways your proposal can be modified to meet such concerns.
Stage 2: Complete your application
After you have finished your consultation, you need to complete your application and lodge it with us. Please include the appropriate payment.
Stage 3: Public notification
Once all of the necessary information is supplied, a decision will be made on whether your application shall proceed on a non-notified, limited notified, or publicly notified basis.
Stage 4: Submissions
If your consent has to be publicly notified, the community now has an opportunity to make a submission on your proposal.
Stage 5: Pre-hearing meetings
Pre-hearing meetings are organised by the Council to provide an opportunity for the applicant and submitters to understand each others' viewpoints and if possible resolve any points of disagreement.
Stage 6: Hearings
If the submitters’ concerns are not resolved a hearing is organised. A hearing is a formal process for considering resource consent applications. It gives the applicant and all submitters the opportunity to formally present their case to a Hearings Committee.
Stage 7: Decision
After the hearing, a decision will be made. A copy of the decision will be sent to you and any submitters.
Stage 8: After the decision
If you are unhappy with the decision, there are options available for making an appeal.