Resource consents

Monitoring resource consents

Local authorities are made responsible by the Resource Management Act (RMA) for the monitoring of:

resource consents
effectiveness of plans such as district plans and policy statements
overall state of the environment.

The RMA doesn't specify the actual extent to which monitoring must take place but it must be an ongoing process that is enough to ensure that authorities are fulfilling their duties under the Act.

Why monitor resource consents?
How is monitoring carried out?
Different consents require different monitoring
Fees for monitoring
What happens if conditions aren't met?

Why monitor resource consents?

Monitoring resource consents enables Auckland City to determine if resource consent holders are fulfilling the conditions of their consent. It also enables Auckland City to keep tabs on the impact of development on the environment.

How is monitoring carried out?

Although Auckland City is responsible for ensuring that resource consents are monitored it may not choose to carry out the monitoring itself. Generally speaking, the nature and scale of a particular development will determine who undertakes the monitoring and the extent of monitoring carried out.

Some developments will involve routine inspections by Auckland City officers while in other cases the council may require the consent-holder to carry out their own monitoring as a condition of the resource consent being granted.

For developments with major environmental effects such as a mining operation a management plan may be required, detailing with day-to-day:

management of the operation,
contingency and precautionary measures, and
general monitoring activities.

Different consents require different monitoring

Different types of resource consent typically call for different skills and technical knowledge, as well as a different monitoring strategy.

For example, a subdivision consent will typically involve two specific monitoring stages:

land development stage, and
completion of works (when checking will occur to make sure new sections are fully serviced with water and sewer connections, etc).

A land use consent, on the other hand, may require longer-term monitoring. It may also involve ongoing sampling and/or the implementation of highly technical procedures (by skilled professionals) to avoid, lessen or remedy any adverse environmental effects.

Fees for monitoring

Fees for resource consent monitoring are charged at an hourly rate. Contact us for information.

What happens if conditions aren't met?

Various actions may be taken by local authorities if the conditions of a resource consent aren't being met. Depending on the circumstances, these include issuing:

an abatement notice - this is essentially an official warning that the RMA is being contravened, or
an enforcement order - court-backed order demanding compliance, or
an instant fine.

Severe breaches of the Resource Management Act or the conditions of a resource consent can result in the courts prosecuting and the imposition of a heavy fine.

More about environmental fines.