A layperson’s guide to engineering consents

From City Scene, published on 18 May, 2008

If you are undertaking land development, you may need an engineering consent from the council. Anyone can submit a resource or building consent, but only professional engineers and surveyors can apply for engineering consents. If you have any questions about engineering consents, phone 379 2020 and ask for the council’s duty engineer.

There are primarily two types of engineering consent – engineering plan approvals and engineering right-of-way approvals.

An engineering plan approval is required for all new public assets that service private developments, from roads and street lights to drainage and infrastructure. It may be useful to contact an engineering consultant or surveyor who operates extensively within Auckland city for help with this. They should know whether you need an engineering plan approval, and be able to make the application to the council on your behalf.

The other type of engineering consent, an engineering right-of-way approval, is required for a development that involves driveways serving more than one lot or property. To obtain this consent, the construction design and methodology needs to be approved and inspected by the council.