How to Make A Submission

A submission is a written statement in support or opposition to a notified consent application. If you are considering making a submission, then you should find out as much as possible about the proposal and its effects.

If you make a submission, you need to identify what effect the proposed activity will have on you, and what you think the decision on the application should be. 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. But if you don’t want to be heard, and no one else does, a hearing may not be held.

Your submission should be concise and clearly state:

• Your reason for making a submission.
• Whether you support or oppose the application.
• The decision you wish the West Coast Regional Council to reach.
• Whether you wish to speak at any hearing.
• The conditions you feel should be imposed if the consent is granted.
• The closing date for submissions is always set out in the public notice which advertises the consent application. After you have sent your submission to the Council you must send a copy to the applicant.

The RMA is concerned with managing and protecting the environment. Your submission should focus on what you see as the positive or negative environmental effects of the activity needing resource consent and how you want these effects to be managed. You can focus on the application as a whole, or on a particular part of it.

To make a submission on a resource consent application, use the Submission Consent Form found here.

Submissions can be hand delivered to the Council, posted or emailed to info@wcrc.govt.nz or cc_admin@wcrc.govt.nz

Then what happens?
All submissions are received and carefully considered by the hearing commissioner.

The Council may invite you to attend a pre-hearing meeting, or meetings with some or all of the people interested in the application. These meetings can be used to clarify or resolve issues and concerns.

You will be notified if a hearing is to be held. At the hearing you will have the opportunity to speak again.

At the hearing the Hearing Commissioner(s) will consider the application, all submissions received and reports by Council staff. They will then decide whether or not to grant a resource consent and any conditions which may apply to the resource consent.

If you make a submission you will receive a copy of the decision even if you choose not to attend the meeting or speak in support of your submission.