Resource consents

Streamlined application process

List of consultants
How to become a recognised consultant
Business rules and protocols
Regulatory framework

We have introduced a streamlined process for handling resource consents in a bid to provide a faster service.

There is a new standardised resource consent application format, available for use by recognised planning consultants. This ensures that incoming applications are more consistent with the requirements.

Currently the process is up and running in the Isthmus and the Hauraki Gulf Islands, and is soon to be rolled out in the central area.

The move follows investigations which showed that many of the delays in processing consents stemmed from applications being lodged with inaccurate or incomplete information.

The new standardised format means staff will be better equipped for more timely processing due to a more common understanding on information requirements early in the process, hence aiming to significantly improve our ability to process non-notified resource consents within the statutory 20 working day timeframe.

The streamlined process can only be used by engaging the services of a recognised planning consultancy. Consultants must attend a workshop run by council, to ensure an in-depth understanding of the required format and minimum information requirements. In order to lodge an application in the streamlined process you must do so via one of the consultancies listed below.

List of consultants

A - D | E - N | O - Z

A - D

Allan Bradbourne Partners
Babbage Consultants Limited
Barker & Associates Limited
Barry Kaye
Beca Carter Hollings & Ferner Ltd
Bentley & Co Limited
Blakey Scott Planning
Boffa Miskell Limited
Chris Kitson
Connell Wagner Limited
Dales Consultancy Services
David Wren
Davis Ogilvie
Demler Planning Services
Duffill Watts & King Limited

E - N

Eclipse Group Limited
Expanse Limited
GHD Limited
Haines Planning Consultants Ltd
Hardacre Planning Limited
Harrison Grierson Consultants Limited
Hill Young Cooper Limited
Iain McManus Planning Consultant
Incite
Integrated Planning Solutions Limited
Jenny Hudson
John Childs
Kim Hardy
Landuse Planning Solutions Ltd
Lovett Planning Limited
McCormick Rankin Cagney
Meridian Planning Consultants Limited
MWH - Planning

O - Z

Opus International Consultants
Peter Neeve Planning Consultants Ltd
Planning Network Services
Resource Management Solutions Ltd
Simon Yates Planning Limited
Stephen Havill
Steven Dietsch
Telco Asset Management
TSE Group Limited
Urban Planning
Urbisphere Limited
URS
Wood and Partners Consultants

To obtain contact details for these consultants, see www.yellowpages.co.nz or contact us.

How to become a recognised consultant

To use the new streamline resource consent programme as a recognised consultant, you first need to register with the council.

Fill in the form below and send to:

Principal Planner
Professional Services Planning
Auckland City Environments
Private Bag 92516
Wellesley Street
Auckland 1010.

Your application will be lodged and an interview with the principle planner will be arranged.

By filling out the form you:

declare membership with the New Zealand Planning Institute
agree to use the report template developed by Auckland City for writing reports.
acknowledge you have read and will abide by the rules set out in the streamlined resource consent application programme business rules and protocols.

Note: Variations of this form will not be accepted and Auckland City reserves the right to decline registrations.

Streamlined resource consents - application to become a recognised consultant (178 kb PDF)

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Business rules and protocols

The approved practitioner/practice agrees to comply with the following business rules at all times.

Applications to the programme will only be accepted via the streamline resource consent registration form.
Only full members of the New Zealand Planning Institute will be accepted into the streamlined programme.
Applicants to the programme are subject to a pre-qualification interview with the council's principal planner.
Registration of the approved practitioner/practice includes all persons acting on behalf of that practitioner/practice and such persons agree to comply with the following business rules at all times.
All resource consent applications once registered are required to include the streamline resource consent form and will only be considered for streamlining if this form is included. Variations of this form will not be accepted.
The approved practitioner/practice will give the council at least 48 hours notice for an upcoming streamline consent application via email (please see below for addresses). The email subject line must include the words 'Streamline consent' and state:
- the address of the application
- the likely consents required
- whether comments are likely from any of the council sister departments.
This will allow the council to improve its service delivery by providing time to coordinate its internal resources to meet the incoming application.
Streamline RCA's must be sent to and lodged with the council within three working days after the email notification is sent. Failing this, applications will not be processed under the streamlined programme.

Please send your email to: rcadmin@aucklandcity.govt.nz

The streamlined programme process does not automatically exclude pre-application discussion. However, such discussion must be held before the initial 48-hour notification period for the streamlined consent application concerned.
The council will endeavour to obtain its internal comments within five working days of the date of the formal lodgement of the resource consent application. Please note: This five working day period also includes Section 92 of the Resource Management Act 1991, requests, unless an alternative time frame is agreed upon by the council planner and the agent.
If there is a difference of professional opinion between the agent and the council planner processing the resource consent application, the council planner will forward the application to their team leader to be resolved. If this cannot be achieved, the resource consent application will not be processed under the streamlined programme.
If the council planner believes the agent has not adequately assessed a matter within the resource consent application concerned, then the council planner will consult with the agent/agency.
The council planner will advise the practitioner/practice of the issue in question by telephone, and will then confirm this via email outlining any requests the council planner may have. The practitioner/practice will then have five working days to respond to the council planner's request. If a response is not received within five working days, the resource consent application will not be processed under the streamlined programme.
If an agreement can be decided upon, then the practitioner/practice is responsible for amending the resource consent application accordingly.
If an agreement cannot be decided upon and/or the agent /agency's resource consent application is not amended accordingly, then the application concerned will not be processed under the streamlined programme.
The council will hold a meeting every three months between itself and the practitioner/practice to discuss interpretation and processing issues regarding the resource consent application.
Failure to follow the streamlined programmes business rules and/or failure to meet processing standards will result in the concerned resource consent application being excluded from the programme.
Repeated failure (three times or more) to identify all relevant areas for consent and/or failing to comprehensively address these areas for consent within the streamline consent report may result in the practitioner/practice concerned being excluded from streamlined programme.
Council reserves the right to exclude and omit any agent from the streamlined programme at any time that it so chooses. However, before doing so, the council will discuss any ongoing process problems with the practitioner/practice concerned in order to try to resolve such problems, with the exclusion of the practitioner/practice from streamlined programme being a final option.
All applications submitted by an agent of the streamlined programme will require an initial deposit. Deposits are as follows and include GST:
- up to 5 units $1600
- 6-15 units $2000
- 16+ units - $3000

Regulatory framework

Controls/guides:

Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA)

Auckland City District Plan including:

Hauraki Gulf Islands section, 1996
Isthmus section, 1999
Central Area section, 2004

Local Government Act 2002 (LGA)

Auckland City Consolidated Bylaws 1998

Auckland City Business Objectives

Auckland City's Customer Services Strategy

Experience of resources performing activities