Resource Consents - Their Types and Activities Requiring Resource Consents

As per the terms mentioned in the Resource Management Act 1991, a resource consent is a special permission that has to be obtained from the local council if a person wishes to implement an activity which uses the environment violating some of the plans of the RMA, its correlated decrees and the local regional or district plan. A resource consent encompasses conditions to prevent, mitigate or regulate the effects of the proposed activity on the environment.

Various Types of Resource Consents

Resource consents are available in five different types, which can be sanctioned based on the nature of the activity being proposed:

• Land Use Consent - This type of consent covers a wide range of activities such as construction of buildings, additions or modifications to existing structures, demolition of buildings, undertaking earthworks, removal of trees, construction or alteration of a water bore, installation of bridges, etc.
• Subdivision Consent - This consent is required for adjustments of boundaries, formation of freehold titles, creation of cross-leases and development of unit titles.
• Coastal Permit - Activities carried out in the marine area which are not in compliance with the regional coastal plan necessitate a coastal permit. These include usage of water from the sea or an estuary, implementation of tasks that will change the seabed or foreshore, or divert coastal water.
• Water Permit - Water permits are needed for damming, diverting or taking water, of or from water bodies such as lakes, streams, rivers, dams, wells or springs. Diverting water from any source on the surface, jetty construction and economic activities like fishing, kayak hire,etc. also require a water permit.
• Discharge Permit - A discharge permit is required for discharging contaminants or waste water into the environment.

Activities Requiring Resource Consents

For planning a resource consent, one must have adequate knowledge about the activities which actually need a resource consent to be issued. The activities requiring a resource consent can be categorised as follows:

• Permitted activities - These usually do not require a resource consent. However, any regulations, rules or conditions mentioned in the local plans for the permitted activity will have to be complied with.
  
• Controlled activities - For implementation of such activities, a resource consent issued by the local council is essential. But, the local council may or may not enforce conditions on the consent for alleviating the effects of the project.
  
• Non-complying activities - Consents for these activities are granted only if the negative environmental effects of the proposed activity are negligible or if the activity does not contradict with the terms and conditions of the local plan.
  
• Prohibited activities - Resource consents for activities mentioned as prohibited cannot be obtained.
  

Additional information about the various resource consent types and the activities specified in the district or regional plans can also be requested from the local council or resource consent consultants in New Zealand.