Preparing and lodging an application

A resource consent application must include prescribed information and an assessment of environmental effects.  It must include information of sufficient detail to satisfy the purpose for which it is required.

A resource consent application is required to contain the following information:

• A description of the proposed activity;
• A description of the site at which the activity would occur;
• The name and address of owner and occupier of the site;
• A description of other activities that are part of the proposal;
• A description of any other resource consents which are required for the activity;
• An assessment of the activity against the matters in Part 2;
• An assessment of the activity against relevant provisions of planning documents; and
• An assessment of the environmental effects of the activity in such detail as corresponds with the scale and significance of the effects.

In some situation, a resource consent is required to contain the following information: ⁴⁵¹⁴

• If the proposal includes a permitted activity, a description of the permitted; activity that demonstrates it complies with the permitted activity requirements
• If the application relates to an existing resource consent, an assessment of the value of the investment of the existing consent holder; and
• If the activity is to occur in a are covered by a customary marine title group planning document, an assessment of the activity against any resource management matters in that planning document.

A subdivision consent application is required to contain the following information: ⁴⁵¹⁵

• The position of all new boundaries;
• The areas of all new allotments;
• The locations and areas of all new reserves to be created;
• The locations and areas of any existing esplanade reserves, esplandade strips and access strips;
• The locations and areas of any part of the bed of a river or lake to be vested in the territorial authority;
• The locations and areas of any land within the coastal marine area to become part of the common marine and coastal area; and
• The locations and areas of land to be set aside as new roads. 

A resource consent application for reclamation is required to contain the following information: ⁴⁵¹⁶

• The location of the area to be reclaimed;
• The position of all new boundaries (if practicable); and
• Any part of the area to be set aside as an esplanade reserve or esplanade strip.

Every application for a resource consent must include an assessment of environmental effects. 

The detail required for the assessment will depend on the scale and significance of the potential effects. You may need to engage a resource management professional to help prepare the AEE as well as other experts to deal with specific effects. As well as considering environmental effects more generally, the AEE should specifically address any assessment criteria identified in the relevant plan and any concerns raised by affected parties.

An AEE must include the following information: ⁴⁵¹⁷

• A description of any possible alternative locations or methods, where an activity is likely to result in significant adverse effects;
• An assessment of the actual or potential effects on the environment of the proposed activity;
• An assessment of any risks to the environment of an activity which includes the use of hazardous substances and installations;
• Where an activity includes the discharge of any contaminant, a description of the nature of the discharge, the sensitivity of the receiving environment, and possible alternative methods;
• A description of the mitigation measures to be undertaken;
• Identification of persons interested in or affected by the proposal, consultation undertaken if any, and response to the views of those consulted;
• How monitoring will be carried out (if required) and by whom; and
• Where a protected customary right is likely to be adversely affected by the proposed activity, the AEE must include a description of possible alternative locations or methods for the proposed activity unless written approval is given by the protected customary rights group. 

The size and comprehensiveness of an AEE should be proportional to the potential effects of the proposed activity. It needs to be sufficient to enable the consent authority to evaluate the potential effects, and interested and affected parties to identify how they will be affected.

An AEE must address the following matters: ⁴⁵¹⁸  

• Any effect on those in the neighbourhood and, where relevant the wider community, including any socio-economic and cultural effects;
• Any physical effect on a locality, including any landscape and visual effects;
• Any effect on ecosystems, including effects on plants or animals and any physical disturbance of habitats in the vicinity;
• Any effect on natural and physical resources having aesthetic, recreational, scientific, historical, spiritual, or cultural, or other special value for present or future generations;
• Any discharge of contaminants into the environment, including any unreasonable emission of noise, and options for the treatment and disposal of contaminants; and
• Any risk to the neighbourhood, the wider community, or the environment through natural hazards or the use of hazardous substances or hazardous installations.

Prior to lodging the application it is advisable to meet with a resource consent processing officer to go through your draft application and identify any gaps or requirements for additional information. This will avoid delays when the application is formally lodged. At the same time ask for an indication of how much the consent authority is likely to charge you for processing the application.

Your resource consent application should be accompanied by the charge levied by the consent authority to process the application.

Last updated at 9:30AM on January 5, 2018