Frequently Asked Questions
Is my application confidential?
No. Once you’ve submitted your application to the Council, it becomes public information. The Council may agree to keep some material private if it is commercially sensitive. You will need to identify that material clearly. Council will provide copies of any application to anyone who asks for it.
Do I have to pay? What are the costs?
The RMA allows Regional Councils to recover all reasonable costs associated with the processing and monitoring of a consent. Details on Council’s charging policies, and charge out rates for staff, are set out in the Annual Plan. All costs can be paid via online banking or cash/eftpos at Council offices.
Application costs
The West Coast Regional Council's procedure is to require a minimum deposit payment before the consent process begins. This goes towards the cost of processing the application, with any additional cost being invoiced at the end of the process. For complex applications, monthly invoices may be established. The final cost of processing is based on actual and reasonable staff time and other costs (such as photocopying and postage).
Application for Resource Consents | |
Land use consent and associated consents for dry bed gravel extraction | $940.70 |
Land use consent and associated consents for river protection works | $1,505.35 |
Discharge permits for dairy effluent discharges | $1,505.35 |
Land use consent | $1,505.35 |
Land use consent and associated consents for land based alluvial gold mining operations | $2,258.60 |
Coastal permits | $1,505.35 |
All other resource consents | $1,505.35 |
CONSENT ADMINISTRATION | |
Application for a change or cancellation of consent conditions | $753.25 |
Application for a Certificate of Compliance or an Existing Use Certificate | $753.25 |
Application to extend the lapsing period for a consent | $753.25 |
Transfer of consents from the consent holder to another (payable by the person requesting the transfer) | $188.60 |
Request for a change to consent holders name (payable by the person requesting the change) | $188.60 |
TRANSFER EXISTING WATER PERMIT BETWEEN SITES WITHIN A CATCHMENT | |
Non-notified | $188.60 |
Annual Administration Charges
Once a resource consent is granted, the consent holder must pay an annual administration fee. This fee is set at $102 plus GST ($117.30 including GST) per consent file. This covers the ongoing cost of compiling and monitoring of accounts, dealing with general enquiries, maintaining the consents and compliance databases and other general administration relating to each resource consent file held. This applies to all current consents. If you no longer require your resource consent, or you are no longer the property owner relating to the consent, please contact a Consents staff member to discuss surrendering or transferring the consent. To surrender or transfer a resource consent you must do so in writing. Forms are available here.
Monitoring charges
Costs associated with monitoring of the conditions of a consent will also be charged to the consent holder. These costs are in addition to the Annual administration charge.
Whitebait stand resource consents have an annual compliance set fee of $201.25 including GST. These fees are usually invoiced in July each year.
The annual monitoring fee for gravel is $564.65 including GST.
Set charges also apply to the monitoring of permitted activities on dairy farms. Other compliance charges are based on the amount of time a Council officer will spend dealing with a consent. These charges and staff hourly charge out rates
How long will it take to get my consent?
Council complies with the timeframes as set out in the Resource Management Act. If all necessary information is supplied with your application, a decision on non-notified applications will be made within one month (20 working days). A decision on notified applications will be made within approximately six months (130 working days), and a decision on limited notified applications within approximately four and a half months (100 working days). A decision to notify the consent will be made within 20 working days of Council receiving the application.
Is there anything else that could help me get a resource consent?
If you require a resource consent it is important that you talk with everybody who is interested, or is likely to be affected by your proposed activity. If you are uncertain who to consult, contact a Consents Officer for advice. You may wish to consider the following groups:
- Adjacent landowners and occupiers;
- Other users of the resource, for example downstream users of a river you wish to take water from or discharge contaminants into;
- Iwi groups, local Mäori;
- The Department of Conservation;
- Heritage New Zealand;
- Environmental groups; and
- Any other people who are likely to be affected by your activity.
Consultation will generally help smooth the processing of a resource consent application. Time spent on consultation before your application is submitted to Council can mean considerable savings by avoiding lengthy and costly pre-hearings, hearings and appeal processes.
If your proposed activity has only a minor effect on the environment and all interested parties have given their approval, your application may not have to be notified. Remember to discuss your proposal with your neighbours and others interested parties before you submit it to Council.
