Earthworks

Earthworks can be described as an activity that disturbs soil, earth or land surfaces. Activities like earthworks can affect the environment, other people and properties and are therefore likely to require a resource consent.

You may need a consent if your activity will involve soil disturbance near streams, lakes, wetlands, coastal dunes or steep land. The information you supply should be detailed according to the scale, scope and effects of the proposed activity.

If a site has contaminated land, or is close to a waterway, it is even more important that earthworks are undertaken carefully and properly. Land may be contaminated if it was previously used for a hazardous activity or industry. See a list of these activities and industries on the Ministry for the Environment website.

An earthworks consent looks at the geotechnical aspects of your property and sets conditions to help you achieve suitably engineered excavations and fill. It also ensures that earthworks are undertaken in a manner that prevents or limits sediment discharge, thereby protecting freshwater and marine environments.

To find out whether you need a consent, contact our Consents team before getting your project underway.