Stage 1: Preparing your application (information gathering)
When you learn that you need to apply for a resource consent, you need to:
- Get the application forms from the council or online from the council's website.
- Complete an assessment of environmental effects (AEE). Every resource consent application has to have an AEE. Refer to the district or regional plan or council website for a guide about what to include or see A Guide to Preparing a Basic Assessment of Environmental Effects available on the Ministry for the Environment's website: www.mfe.govt.nz/
- Identify who might be interested in or affected by the activity and how they might be affected (this might require consultation). An affected person is a person or organisation who the council thinks will experience an effect generated by your proposal that will be significantly greater than or different from the effect on the general public. Your council may give you affected party approval forms which if signed can mean your application can be assessed on a non-notified basis (see page 12).
- Talk to those people the council has indicated may be affected by the activity and seek their written approval if you don't want your application to be 'notified' (see page 11), or give an explanation why you don't think they're affected or why you can't get their approval.
- Get any other information the council has asked for. This is often identified in the council's plan or on the application forms.
- Consider if you need to employ an expert (resource management professional) to help you prepare the information.
Some councils have checklists you can use to make sure you have all the information the council requires.
Send all the completed forms and relevant information to the council along with the application fee. Some councils prefer you to lodge your application in person and will meet with you to discuss your application and ensure you have all the relevant information.
Council staff can guide you with what to include in your application - but you might be charged for their time. Make sure you ask about any costs when you make an appointment, or ask for copies of documents.
The key to a good resource consent process is to get things started early, and make sure you provide all the information the council requires.
Prepare a thorough assessment of environmental effects
Every activity has some effect on the environment. These effects can be positive or negative. Redevelopment of an old commercial area might produce a more pleasant shopping environment. A new building might cause loss of privacy for its neighbours and/or an increase in traffic.
An assessment of environmental effects (AEE) describes all the environmental effects of the activity on the environment and the ways any negative effects are to be mitigated. Every resource consent application must include an AEE.
The amount of information you need to include in the AEE will depend on how significant the environmental effects will be. Sometimes the district or regional plan will tell you what and how much detail you need. Most councils want you to provide at least:
- a description of the proposal
- a description of the site and locality
- a site plan that is drawn to scale and other plans such as elevations of new buildings
- a description of the possible environmental effects of the activity
- a description of ways in which adverse environmental effects can be avoided, remedied or mitigated
- identification of persons affected by the proposal
- a record of any consultation you've undertaken including affected parties, if any
- a discussion of any monitoring of environmental effects that might be required.
To help you prepare an AEE, you can:
- meet with council staff or check for information on the council website to find out what you need to include
- look at the relevant sections in council plans
- see A Guide to Preparing a Basic Assessment of Environmental Effects available on the Ministry for the Environment's website: www.mfe.govt.nz
- think about what changes you could make to the activity if the environmental effects cause too much concern to you, the council, or the people you consult with.
Taking the time to prepare a careful and thorough AEE will save you time and frustration later.
Depending on the scale of the activity, you may wish to get help from an expert to prepare your application.
Remember that any activity needing a resource consent will have some environmental effects. The council won't accept an AEE that says there are no environmental effects from the activity.
Consult the people who might be affected
The council doesn't only think about effects on the natural environment when deciding whether to grant a resource consent. The council also thinks about how the activity will affect other people's enjoyment of the environment.
Ask yourself: 'What effect will the activity have on neighbours or any other people?' and then talk to the people who might be affected.
Consultation lets you find out what people think about the activity, and if they think it will have an effect on them, and whether there are any problems that can be solved. While you are not required by the RMA to consult anyone, it is often in your best interests to do so. Your AEE needs to include a record of any people you've consulted about the activity.
Consult early, and consult well. Early consultation can help you:
- give people a clear understanding of what you want to do
- get their support for your application
- identify the effects and matters that will concern the council
- make any changes that will solve people's concerns about the activity before lodging your application
- get your application processed faster
- save costs in the long run.
For more information see 'An Everyday Guide to the RMA' booklet 2.2 Consultation for Resource Consent Applicants.
