You are encouraged to meet or speak to the Council™s Resource Planners before applying for a resource consent. A pre-application discussion will assist with:
Confirming the need for a resource consent
Identifying the type and likely costs of resource consent required
Explaining the resource consent process and what completing this involves
Identifying the information that you will need to provide with your application e.g. site plans,
elevations, earthwork volumes
Identifying any people likely to be considered affected, and any consultation with them that may be required
Identifying whether the application may be nontified or non-notified
At the conclusion of any pre-application discussion, you should be in a position of knowing:
The appropriate consent(s) to apply for, and whether other consents are likely to be required from other local
authorities (e.g. Auckland Regional Council)
The relevant issues and the scope and detail of the information required to support the application(s). Where issues are identified, possible alternative solutions to the issues that have been suggested.
The parties likely to be affected and the degree of consultation required, including whether the application is likely to be publicly
notified
What procedures the application will go through; for example in determining whether or not the application will be notified and the criteria for
non-notification
Any other approvals that may be required, such as Transit New Zealand
The fee required to be deposited with the application. The Council's charging policy is for fair and reasonable cost recovery for all work associated with the processing of an application. An estimate of likely costs can be provided.
What relevant information the Council holds which may assist your
application
Discuss your application with Ecowater
Solutions, as infrastructure matters related to water, sewerage and stormwater disposal are some of the most significant issues and costs that you will face.
It is recommended that applicants research the requirements for information and infrastructure early.
Remember that the processing of a resource consent or subdivision application is generally simpler, quicker and less costly if you have already sought and taken the Council's advice before making an application.
Pre-application meetings for major or complex applications
For large or complex proposals (for example a landuse and subdivision Medium Density Housing complex proposal), a pre-application meeting gathers together the various parties (for example Traffic & Roading Engineers, and Ecowater Solutions staff) likely to be involved. The meetings can be a useful way of considering and resolving issues before the application is finalised. The meeting should ensure that, when the application is lodged, it contains all relevant
information. The meeting aims to:
Provide the Council and others with the opportunity to contribute to the process
Ensure everyone involved understands how the District Plan is interpreted
Clarify any additional information requirements (for example hazardous and contaminated sites information, geotechnical investigations or stormwater management information)
Receive early feedback and advice that is agreed and recorded on file
Identify any development or site constraints
Identify potential financial contributions
Identify what specialist information is to be provided. This could include agreeing on the brief to the applicant's consultant, thus reducing or avoiding an audit of that particular specialist's work.
Establish the types of modelling or risk analysis to be undertaken - including any assumptions that underpin this work
Determine if a baseline assessment should be undertaken. A baseline assessment is the consideration of the adverse effects of an activity or structure that could reasonably be expected to be developed on the property and this is compared to the effects of the proposal.
