What does giving written approval involve?
Giving your written approval involves signing a number of documents. The applicant will usually ask you to sign and date:
- a copy of the application form
- a copy of the plans, if there are any
- a copy of the assessment of environmental effects (AEE)
- an affected person approval form.
The application form sets out the details of the application for resource consent.
The plans show what the applicant wants to do.
The assessment of environmental effects (AEE) states what the environmental effects will be and how the applicant proposes to address them.
The affected person approval form is the form you sign and date to show that:
- you understand the activity and its effects
- you give your approval to the activity
- you understand that the council can't consider effects on you when it processes the application after you've given written approval, unless you lodge a submission or withdraw your approval.
The approval form might also be called an affected person consent, an affected party approval, or a neighbour's approval. Not every council uses a form. You might just be asked to sign the application and/or the plans. If you are asked for your written approval:
- study all of the documents carefully so you understand exactly what's involved
- make sure the applicant gives you enough information for you to understand the proposal and how it could affect you
- remember that you can take your time, and you don't have to sign.
