FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Even the simplest resource consent will cost $2,000 to prepare and process through Council. Complex resource consents can cost many thousands in consultant and Council fees. Our initial estimate will outline what the likely costs will be.
Generally, resource consents expire after 5 years.
A resource consent is processed under the Resource Management Act and district or regional plan and covers the land use, subdivision or discharge parts of the development. A building consent is prepared and processed under the Building Act and covers the building structure itself. Building consents will usually follow the resource consent stage and building works cannot commence until all required resource cosents are obtained.
We can advise at our initial meeting how long it will take to prepare a resource consent application. This will depend on the complexity of the project and how many inputs will be required. For a very simple proposal we may be able to prepeare an application within two weeks. A very large development may take 6 months to prepare. Our advice to clients is to take care in preparing applications so that they are comprehensive and cover what we know the Council will be expecting – this saves frustration and time later in the process.
On behalf of our clients we prepare the resource consent application and manage the process through to approval. The process often begins with a pre-application meeting with Council staff at which time any necessary mofictions to the development are discussed with our clinet. The application is then prepared and lodged. The Council will often then ask for further information (the “Section 92) and we work though that until Council staff are happy they have everything they need to finalise the consent. Almost all applications follow a “non-notified” process, although there is often the need to consult with tangata whenua and neighbours.
Our planners are experts in preparing resource consent applications. They work with our other experts to complie all of the design, information and analysis necessary to go in to the resource consent.
To find out whether or not you need a resource consent people often go to a Council service centre or phone the Council helpdesk. We can give the same preliminary advice, often over the phone.
There are many types of resource consent, and often more than one resource consent that is required for a particular development. There is a huge advantage in involving a consultant who can identify what resource consents are required, and guide clients through the process of gaining those consents. This is a core part of what we do. Our planners are trained to understand council rules, to work alongside our other specialist staff to prepare resource consents and to work through the process of obtaining the consents.
A flood assessment may be required when a proposed development is located within or near a flood-prone area, overland flow path, floodplain, or other area identified by the local council. It is commonly requested to support resource consent applications where development has the potential to affect flood behaviour or be affected by flooding.
Undertaking a flood assessment early helps identify potential constraints before detailed design begins. This allows flood management measures to be incorporated into the project from the outset, reducing the likelihood of redesign, supporting resource consent applications, and helping address any technical questions raised by council during the assessment process.