About resource consents
What is a resource consent?
Under the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) you may need a resource consent if you wish to carry out activities which may affect the environment. A resource consent is a legal authorisation from a regional or local council to use or take a resource, or discharge water or waste into the air, water or onto land.
Which activities require a resource consent?
Land use: RMA section 9 - To carry out earthworks in certain places and/or over a certain area
- To discharge any contaminate (including water) onto or into the ground.
- Construction or alteration of a water bore.
- To use or subdivide land and build or modify structures.
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Coastal Marine Area: RMA section 12 - Discharges wastes, treated or untreated, into coastal waters
- Taking and/or using water from an estuary or sea
- Diverting coastal water
- Performing works which will alter the foreshore or seabed
- To construct, alter or demolish any foreshore or seabed structure or introduce plants
- Damage to the foreshore or seabed or deposit any material into it in a way likely to hard it or plants or animals or their habitat
- Occupy land in the Coastal Marine Area or carry out an activity
- Remove any natural materials.
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Beds of lake and river: RMA section 13 - Building, modifying or removing a structure (eg. jetty, water pump intake, stormwater outfall)
- Drilling, tunnelling, excavating or disturbing the bed
- Reclaiming, dredging or draining, or depositing any material.
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Water: RMA section 14 - To take water (except for reasonable domestic use, stock supply or fire-fighting)
- To discharge
- To dam a watercourse
- To divert water
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Discharges: RMA section 15 - To discharge wastes, treated or untreated, into or onto land, or into water
- To discharge dust, steam and other air-borne contaminants into the air
- To discharge contaminated (including sediment-laden) water into natural water
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Noise: RMA section 16 | | √ |
Permitted activities
Resource consents are not needed for some activities which are permitted by rules in a regional plan, as long as you comply with particular conditions specified in the plan.
For example, provided that there will be no adverse effects, the RMA allows you to take fresh water for reasonable domestic needs, for stock drinking water, and for fire-fighting.
If you are uncertain about whether you need a resource consent contact the ARC on 09 366 2000 or email your question to environment@arc.govt.nz
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