Gravel Extraction

Small amounts of gravel can be taken for reasonable domestic or agricultural purposes as a permitted activity (that is you may not need to apply for a resource consent). The rules and requirements, the list of rivers and creeks where you can do this and the maximum amount you can take is listed in the Regional Land and Water Plan, Rule 29.

Construction of infrastructure such as roads, and residential and commercial development, depend on the ability to access, extract, and process gravel economically from both land and river sources.

Most gravel extraction consents require the consent holder to provide regular information to tell the Council how much gravel has been taken. To do this, complete the Gravel Return form. Dates that your returns are due will be contained in the conditions of your resource consent. Failure to send in your gravel return information means you are non-compliant with your consent conditions and may result in enforcement action being taken.

Consents to extract gravel have a fixed annual compliance monitoring fee based on the volume of consented take. The amount you pay is based on how much gravel you are allowed to take, regardless of whether you take the full amount or not. The schedule of charges can be found here.