Consents

Submissions

• When can I make a submission?
• Should I make a submission?
• When preparing a submission
• How do I lodge a submission?
• What happens next?
• Currently notified applications

A submission is a written statement about a notified resource consent application. It may be in support or opposition of the proposal, or just a neutral expression of your views. Any person or organisation can make a submission on a publicly notified consent application.

The following factsheet 'Making a Submission on a Resource Consent Application' contains all the information you need to make a submission on a resource consent. 

When can I make a submission?

Submissions can only be made on a notified consent application. This means that an application is advertised in the public notices section of the local newspaper and/or you are directly notified about the application by the Auckland Regional Council.

Following notification you have 20 working days to make a submission. The closing date for the receipt of submissions will always be included in the newspaper notice and / or letter.

Should I make a submission?

Before lodging a submission, you should:

• make sure that you understand what the application is all about, and what the effects will be, by having all the appropriate information. You can obtain information directly from us, from the applicant, or your own professional advisers
• talk to us about your issues and concerns, and how they may be addressed
• talk to the applicant and discuss your issues and concerns with them. An agreement may be able to be reached without going through the formal submission process.

If there are others who feel the same way about the application, then consider making a joint submission (e.g. by forming a community group and appointing a clearly marked spokesperson). Equal consideration will be given to a joint submission or to individual submissions from the same people.

When preparing your submission

Your submission will be more effective if it is clear, concise, and support your views with adequate information. It also must be relevant to the issues that can be addressed by the Resource Management Act (1991) and the resource consent being sought.

Keep these points in mind when preparing your submission:

• be specific. Decide and concentrate on the most important points
• where appropriate, give examples
• deal with the facts
• clearly explain how the proposal affects you, and suggest how the effects could be minimised or avoided
• make sure your concerns / views relate to the activity applied for and its effects, not activities which cannot be addressed under the RMA
• if you wish to suggest alternatives to the proposed approach, provide reasons why they should be considered.

Remember to send a copy of your submission to the applicant at the address given on their public notice/letter.

How do I lodge a submission?

• You must complete a submission form (below), including any information about the application(s) then
• You should sign and date your submission, including your full name, address, telephone number(s)
• Lodge your submission by hand, post or email to consentsubmission@arc.govt.nz (please note a signature is not required for electronic submissions)
• Your submission must be received by the ARC on or before the submission closing date stated on the public notice or letter.

Your submission must also clearly state:

• whether you support or oppose the application, or whether you wish to make a comment only (neutral submission)
• the particular parts of the application your views relate to
• your reasons for making the submission
• the decision you wish the ARC to make
• any conditions you feel should be imposed if the consent is granted
• whether or not you wish to speak in support of your submission at any hearing that may be held.

What happens next?

We encourage applicants and submitters to communicate directly to discuss any concerns, and identify ways in which they can be addressed. If that doesn't work, we may arrange an informal pre-hearing meeting to try to resolve these issues.

If submissions are unable to be resolved, a hearing may be required to determine the application.