Applying for a resource consent
Consent types
There are five types of consent:
- Land use consents
- Subdivision consents
- Water permits
- Discharge permits
- Coastal permits
Some activities may require more than one consent. For example, drilling a well for irrigation purposes and irrigating land with water from the well requires both a land use consent and a water permit.
Council's role is to assess each application and to approve, conditionally approve or decline the application.
Online Resource Consent applications
Applying online
To apply online:
- Go to our online application (see the link below)
- When you select the application, you will be prompted to log in. If you have a login for our online services, enter this now
- To use this service, we do require that you create a login. This is because a login gives you additional usability, such as the ability to save partially completed applications and return to them later
- If you don't yet have a login, creating one is a simple process; simply choose the 'create an account' button and enter your email address and create a password. To complete the process and enable your access to resource consent applications, you must follow the link in the confirmation email you receive
- Resource Consent Application User Guide (PDF, 1.2MB)
Apply for a resource consent online
Alternatively, you can apply using the PDF resource consent forms below. Do not complete both the online form and a downloadable PDF form for the same application.
Resubmission – amending an application that you have lodged
As a user of the MDC resource consenting system, you will know we have a number of digital tools available to you as an Agent / Applicant, including “new” application types and “variation” applications within the system. One of the less obvious functions available to users is the ability as an external party to edit and amend your application after it has been lodged, we call this process “Resubmission“.
Resubmission is built into the core function of the system, allowing the agent /applicant to fix errors and amend the record as necessary, allow missing consents to be added, or further information to be added. This was added into the system to account for changes in information digitally while ensuring we have rules for managing when in processing we can allow an amendment, or if the proposed changes are deemed by the processing officers as outside of scope.
This digital process allows all parties to see the latest agreed-upon application record while allowing management of previous versions of the application, behind the scenes MDC can see where changes have been made within the application record, allowing the processing team to make informed decisions based on the current information provided while keeping a better picture of where the application is at in its processing (status).
We show all users when an application has been amended via a pill message at the top left of the screen.
the following are the rules we use in allowing or disabling resubmission:
- If the Section 88 checklist has not yet been started, or within ten working days from application receipt the agent/applicant may amend the application at any stage.
- If the Section 88 checklist has been started for an application or more than 10 working days have elapsed the ‘Amend application’ action is disabled, the Processing Officers has the ability to manually allow the further amendment, you will need to ring or email the officer to enable this.
- When the Processing Officer has triggered the “Make available for amendment” action, the ‘Amend application’ action is available to the applicant. When the applicant resubmits the application, the ‘Amend application’ action is again disabled for the applicant.
- If the Section 95 Notification Decision workflow has commenced, the “Open for amendment” action is disabled
- If the Section 95 Notification Decision workflow has been finalized and the application was open for amendment, the “Amend application” action is disabled for the applicant.
- Lastly, if an application has been rejected (i.e. reject under the Section 88 checklist), the ‘Amend application’ action is disabled.
As part of this process, the Processing Officer will complete an “amendment assessment”workflow, this workflow is discussed with the agent/applicant upon completion ensuring we communicate the outcome, this workflow will be viewable to all users when we make the system fully open to all users later in the year.
If you have any questions about the resubmission process don’t hesitate to get in touch with the team.
PDF Resource Consent forms
Forms can be printed and completed, then posted, faxed or delivered in person to Council's Blenheim or Picton Customer Service Centres.
Contact us if you would like us to send you a copy of a form in the mail.
Please note: Resource consent applications submitted on paper/via PDF form will incur a fee (found under Resource Consent Fees: Miscellaneous consents, certificate and permissions). As we move to online consents, this fee is being charged for the additional handling and data entry necessary for a hard copy resource consent application.
To avoid this surcharge, please apply for your resource consent online.
Application forms
- Affected Parties Approval (Word Version) (DOCX, 1.3MB)
- Application for Certificate of Compliance or Existing Use Certificate (PDF, 176.5KB)
- Application for Resource Consent (PDF, 2.1MB)
- Application of Transfer of Water/Discharge Permit (site-to-site) (PDF, 104KB)
- Deemed Permitted Boundary Activity - Written Approval (PDF, 118.3KB)
- Deemed Permitted Boundary Activity Application (PDF, 773KB)
- RAF0030-CI2965-Application_to_Extend_Lapse_Period_in_accordance_with_Section_125_(i)bof_the RMA]_2021.pdf (PDF, 749.9KB)
- Schedule Four, Resource Management Act 1991 Assessment of Environmental Effects (PDF, 40.6KB)
- Section 88 Resource Management Act 1991 Making an Application (PDF, 32.3KB)
Supporting information
- Guidelines for Submitting a Water Permit Application (PDF, 172.3KB)
- Information Guidelines and Requirements for Renewal of Foreshore Structure (PDF, 451.2KB)
- Information to Support an Application for Construction of Earth Dams (PDF, 119.8KB)
- Information to Support an Application for Domestic Wastewater Permit (PDF, 219.3KB)
- Information to Support an Application for Foreshore Structure (PDF, 84.1KB)
- Information to Support an Application for Installing or Altering a Bore (PDF, 240.2KB)
- Information to Support an Application for Swing or Stern Tie Mooring (PDF, 104.4KB)
- Information to Support an Application for Water Permit (PDF, 43.2KB)
- Small Site Erosion and Sediment Control Guidlines (PDF, 361KB)
Irricalc
The following is a link to the 'Irricalc' website. This is used to determine reasonable use allocations where water is proposed to be used for irrigation purposes.
Go to Irrigation Reasonable Use tool
Submission forms
See the link below for the online submission form for notified and limited notification applications for a resource consent. (Alternatively, print and complete the PDF version of this form.)
Transfer forms
- Notice of Transfer of Land Use Permit (River or Lake Bed Activity) (PDF, 840KB)
- Notification of Transfer of Coastal Permit (person-to-person) (PDF, 1.4MB)
- Notification of Transfer of Discharge Permit (person-to-person) (PDF, 1MB)
- Notification of Transfer of Water Permit (person-to-person) (PDF, 989.9KB)
Duty Planner Service
A duty planner is available to provide information about the resource management plans and the resource consent process.
Pre-application meetings
General
Council encourages applicants to meet with council staff before applying for resource consent, particularly for more complex or large-scale applications. Processing an application is generally simpler, quicker and less costly if the applicant has sought the council’s advice before making an application. Pre-application meetings bring the various parties together to discuss and ideally resolve issues before the application details are finalised. Until a formal application is lodged pre-application documentation is not a matter of public record and is only available to those parties directly involved.
Applicants should request a pre-application meeting through the Duty Planner service and should provide the following information with their request: meeting:
- site identification (i.e., legal description or location map)
- site photos and a site plan
- brief description of the proposal
- plans, even if they are indicative.
This will assist council planners to identify the relevant issues and to ensure all relevant staff are present at the meeting.
What is likely to be achieved at a pre-application:
- Confirmation on whether a resource consent is required and whether other consents are likely to be required from other councils.
- Identification of the type of resource consent(s) required.
- An explanation of the resource consent process and likely processing times.
- Details on the application fee(s) required and Council’s charging policy.
- An estimate of likely costs.
- Identification of the relevant issues and the scope and detail of the information required to support the application(s), so it corresponds to the scale and significance of the environmental effects and an explanation of the informational requirements for the Assessment of Environmental Effects.
- An explanation of the notification process and the criteria on making the notification decision.
- Identification of any parties likely to be affected, and the degree of consultation recommended.
- Identification of iwi considerations and consultation.
What will not be achieved at a pre-application meeting
Pre-application meetings are intended to provide initial advice and guidance on the resource consent process as it relates to a specific proposal. A pre-application meeting will not replace the in-depth assessment associated with the formal application process. The advice provided is given in good faith but in no way binds a decision of the Council. The information provided during the pre-application process does not pre-empt the normal resource consent assessment and decision-making process.
Council Charging Policy for pre-application meetings/advice
Applicants will be charged for pre-application advice relating to resource consent proposals. Applicants will be charged for Council officer time. This may include any specialists deemed necessary to be in attendance by either the planner or the applicant (e.g. Rivers Engineers, Hydrologists, Environmental Scientists). Additional time may also be charged for administration costs arising from the pre-application meeting.
Processing of applications
Council processes applications in accordance with procedures defined in the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA). Applications can be processed in one of three ways.
Non-notified applications (not advertised)
If Council is satisfied your activity will have only minor adverse effects on the environment, and if all persons Council considers may be affected by your proposal have approved it in writing, your application may not need to be notified.
Council staff dealing with your application will assess your proposal, usually visiting its location.
A written decision on a non-notified application is normally issued within 20 working days of Council's acceptance of the application.
Limited Notification applications (Served only on affected parties)
Limited notification applies where it is determined that the proposal will have no more than a minor adverse effect on the environment, but the written consent of all affected parties has not been received. Council is required to serve notice on all the affected parties.
The period for lodging a submission is 20 working (statutory) days. A hearing shall be required if a submitter requests to be heard. The hearing procedure is the same procedure as that for a publicly notified application hearing.
Publicly Notified Applications (Advertised in the local newspaper and served on affected and other statutory parties)
Council has 10 working days from acceptance of the application to notify the application. If your application is to be publicly notified, the details of it will be advertised in the local newspaper(s) to give members of the public the opportunity to make submissions on your proposal.
Persons that Council considers may be affected by your proposal are advised of it by mail. A sign may be placed on the property identifying it as the site of the application.
Submissions usually close 20 working days after the advertisement appears in the newspapers.
If your proposal is generally in accordance with RMA and plan requirements, and no submissions are received that require a formal hearing, then the application may proceed as for a non-notified application.
If your proposal is not generally in accordance with RMA and plan requirements and/or submissions are received that require a formal hearing, the application will be considered at a hearing of the Resource Hearings Committee (usually comprising three councillors). In some cases an independent commissioner will hear the application. This hearing is scheduled within 25 working days of the closing date for submissions closing.
