From next week the processes around applying for resource consent will change with more onus placed on applicants to provide full and complete information.

These changes have come from the Ministry for the Environment through the Resource Management Act to make the process more efficient and will take effect from Tuesday, March 3.

Changes to the processes around applications for resource consent come into effect on Tuesday, March 3. Photo: File

The onus on applicants to provide complete and full information is to ensure staff can make a decision on whether to accept the application or not.

Thames-Coromandel District Council Planning Manager Michael Jones says currently they have little to no discretion on accepting applications where information is missing.

'There's now a clear expectation that we reduce our processing times and the number and nature of further information requests we had been getting once an application is accepted.”

The changes will give council 10 working days to decide whether an application is complete and 20 working days to provide for a notification decision.

These reforms make it the applicant's responsibility to provide the necessary information for their application.

'It's really ‘front loading' the consent application process compared to how many resource consent applications may have been received in the past.”

Michael says an example of how this could work now is specialist reports or assessments may be required prior to council accepting an application.

In other cases it could mean obtaining specific council departments input, which directly relates to any specific application, prior to lodgement.

'Previously these requirements may have been asked for once the application had already been accepted,” says Michael. 'This caused delays and the expectation or certainty of a timely decision from the date of application would be unlikely to be achieved.”

'So we strongly recommended discussions with relevant council departments are undertaken early on in the process prior to lodging an application as it reduces the likelihood of applications being returned.”

But he adds: 'Not every application will require this degree of information.”

Michael and the council is encouraging people to have a pre-lodgement meeting or book in with council's free duty planning service to talk about their application or plan to avoid possible delays.

To make an appointment about your consent call the Customer Service Team on: 07-868-0200.

To view the legislative changes click here.