How to make a written submission
Once you've learned as much as you can about the application and carefully thought about the effects it will have, you are ready to make a written submission.
- Get a submission form (Forms 13 and 21) from your council offices, council website, or from the website: RMA website.
Your submission needs to identify what effect the proposed activity will have on you, and what decision you want the council to make.
- Fill out all the required information including:
- the name of the council you're sending the submission to
- your full name, address, telephone and fax numbers and email address (or the name and address of your agent or if you have employed someone to act for you)
- the name of the person applying for resource consent (the applicant)
- the type of resource consent sought, the proposed activity and location of the resource consent, the site and place to which it applies
- the parts of the application your submission relates to
- whether you support or oppose specific parts of the application
- if there is any specific information you think the council should consider in making their decision (particularly if you don't clearly support or oppose the application)
- why you are making a submission - why you support or oppose the application or why you think the council should consider the specific information you are providing
- the decision you would like the council to make
- what conditions you want the council to place on a resource consent if the council grants one
- whether you want to speak at a public hearing
- whether you would consider presenting a joint case with others who have made similar submissions at a hearing.
Make sure you state in your submission if you want to speak at a hearing. You don't have to, and while speaking at a hearing can help to highlight what you said in your submission, your submission is just as valid if you don't speak.
If you don't want to be heard, and no-one else does, a hearing won't be held.
- Sign and date your paper submission (electronic submissions do not require a signature).
- Send your submission by post, hand delivery, fax, email or lodge through the councils website (if available) before the closing date and time. The notification advertisement will tell you the closing date and time for the council to receive submissions. It's usually 20 working days after notification of the application.
- Send a copy of your submission to the applicant.
Try to get your submission to the council well before the closing date and time. If you send your submission by post close to the closing date, check to make sure it has arrived in time.
