A resource consent is the approval of a local authority - in this case, the Marlborough District Council - to undertake an activity that is not permitted under the Resource Management Act (RMA) or under the council's various plans governing the use of natural and physical resources in Marlborough and its coastal areas. The council has a number of obligations under the RMA for the issuing of resource consents. For specific information reference should be made to the RMA and the council's resource management plans. The primary aim of the RMA is to promote the sustainable management of natural and physical resources while safeguarding air, water, soil and ecosystems, sustaining the resources for future generations and dealing with any adverse effects from activities on the environment. This aim is the basis of the Marlborough Regional Policy Statement from which the council's resource management plans - principally, the Proposed Marlborough Sounds Resource Management Plan and the Proposed Wairau/Awatere Resource Management Plan - are prepared and administered, in accordance with the RMA. These plans allow people to use the resources in ways that limit harmful effects on the environment. The council's resource management plans will remain as 'proposed' until they become 'operative' as a result of completing the required democratic process. Until operative status is reached, the council's existing operative plans must also be considered in the resource consents process.
The rules in the resource management plans will determine how activities are classified. Activities are classified as permitted, controlled, limited discretionary, discretionary, or prohibited. If they do not fit in any of these categories they are termed non-complying. A resource consent is required for all activities other than a permitted or prohibited activity. The council is unable to accept an application for a prohibited activity.
Consent Types
There are five types of consent:
- Land use consents
- Subdivision consents
- Water permits
- Discharge permits
- Coastal permits
Each of these consent types is the subject of a separate information brochure, which are available from Council.
Council has produced brochures which summarises the information and processes for resource consents. These are available below as pdf files.
Download ADOBE ACROBAT PDF READER
