Resource Consent Notification Process
As part of the resource consent process, we will consider whether an application is significantly impacting the neighbours or of high public interest – if this is the case, we may choose to notify the neighbouring owners or the general public of the consent application. The majority of applications received by Council are non-notified.
When a consent is notified, there is a formal process for people to offer comments and submissions on the proposed activity. We will use the submissions to help us inform a decision on the proposal. There are three categories of notification:
Non-Notified
- Effects on neighbouring properties and the surrounding environment are considered to be less than minor.
- You've received written approvals from any affected parties.
Limited notification
- A surrounding property is considered to be adversely affected by the proposal. The effected owners and/or occupants are given the opportunity to have a say on the proposal through a formal submission process.
Public notification
- A resource consent can be publicly notified two ways:
- The applicant requests public notification of the consent.
- The effects of a proposal are considered to have adverse effects on the wider environment. This allows any person (other than a trade competitor) to have a say on the proposal through a formal submission process.
If you disagree with our decision, you have the right to appeal as prescribed by Section 120 and 121 of the Resource Management Act 1991.
Affected parties
Affected parties are people who might be more interested in, or more affected by, your activity than the general public.
They're usually your immediate neighbours.
RMA hearings
A hearing is a public meeting where a Council Hearings Committee hears evidence for and against your application, and decides whether to approve or decline it. It’s usually held in the Council offices.
Generally, only you and people who’ve made submissions are allowed to speak at the hearing. You have the chance to comment on a Council’s officer’s report on your application, and on any submissions that have been made.
You can ask for one or more independent commissioners to hear and decide your application, rather than the committee or Councillors but this comes at an additional cost.
The hearing will have one of two results:
- If three or more Councillors or committee members attend the hearing, a final decision can be made at the time and the decision announced within the next 15 working days.
- If fewer than three Councillors or committee members attend, a recommendation will be made and the decision's deferred until the next full committee meeting.