FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. When do I need a resource consent?
You need a resource consent if your project does not meet all the requirements of the council's planning document. If you are not sure we will be able to explain the plan requirements to you.
2. Do I need a planning consultant?
Not always. Discuss your project with us and we will advise you of what you need to do. You may be able to deal with it yourself or you may need specialised assistance. We can advise what assistance you will need.
3. How much will it cost?
This will depend on the project. There will be council administrative charges and professional fees. Once we have discussed your needs with you, we will give an estimate of costs based on phases of the consent process or project requirements.
4. How long will my application take?
This also depends on the project. We will give you an estimate of time for preparation of your application/submission and a likely date for a decision from the consent authority. Sometimes this is important if land purchase decisions need to be made.
5. What do I need to do?
Some clients wish to be very involved, others prefer to have their consultant manage everything. We will discuss the level of involvement you want and advise you of things you can do to reduce costs. We will also tell you what information we need from you and ask for your approval before we engage other professional input. If you have preferences for other professionals, e.g lawyer, surveyor engineer, tell us. We will also ask you to approve our work before it is submitted or presented.
6. A nearby development may affect me, what can I do?
You may be able to make a submission to oppose it or suggest alterations that will meet your concerns. We can help you decide what to do and assist with consultation, mediation or preparing a submission.
7. Do I have to own land before I can apply for consent to use it?
No. Obtaining resource consent is often a condition of property purchase. If you are thinking of buying land for a specific activity requiring resource consent we can advise you of the likelihood of obtaining consent on that site and the time you should allow for this when entering into a sale and purchase agreement.
8. I have been told by a council officer that I am unlikely to get consent for my project, is it a waste of time applying?
Not necessarily. Decisions are usually made by a committee of councillors who may or may not follow the staff recommendation. We will give you a carefully considered second opinion and may also be able to suggest ways of reducing the chances of consent being refused. If we think your proposal is unlikely to get consent we will tell you.
9. What is involved in applying for a resource consent?
An application must be submitted to the council. The application must identify all necessary consents required. The Council can only consent to what is applied for. The application must be accompanied by an assessment of the likely effects of the activity on the environment and full details of what is proposed.
It is important to make sure that all issues that might affect the outcome of your application are identified and addressed in your application. If this is not done you may face delays through requests for further information, or have your application declined. It is also important to identify all consents required and whenever possible have these included in the same application. Some planning documents are complex and can contain obscure links between different rules. This can dramatically affect the status of your resource consent proposal.
The applicant may also volunteer conditions to avoid or mitigate effects of the activity. Early consultation with potentially affected parties is advisable. Agreement from these people may increase the chance of success and reduce time delays and costs. We can assist with all of these processes.
After the application is lodged the Council will decide whether or not it is to be notified. Notification means that the application is advertised and submissions are called for. This process takes 20 working days. After the submissions period closes a hearing date is set. At the hearing the applicant presents his or her case and submitters speak to their submissions and council officers give their report. The hearings committee may question the parties. It makes its decision having regard to the information presented. The decision is made "in committee" and should be issued in writing within 15 working days of the hearing. Usually allow 3-4 months from the time an application is lodged until a decision is released.
Applications that do not need notification usually do not need a hearing and the processing time is shorter.
All applications attract a processing fee. This is in the form of a deposit paid when the application is lodged and may include a further charge if the processing of the application exceeds the deposit paid.
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