Navigating the resource consent process is often the critical first stage in a project with so much resting on it. Yet the words ‘resource consent’ often stop people in their tracks, cue confusion and bring a frown to their face.
Diagrams like the one below, are intended as helpful resources that try to make the consenting process appear simple. Just one road with a few easy bends to navigate. So why the feeling of dread? Because it is vital to get the right result under acceptable conditions.
The truth is that applying for a resource consent does not have to be complicated. BTW remove barriers and complications, by guiding and informing all stages of the consenting process, empowering client and stakeholder groups and enabling smart solutions for projects.
The Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) is in place to provide councils with the means and guidelines to protect our environment. It’s an ‘act now with a view to the future’ approach, that gets air time often for what it stops and what it doesn’t do well. But all the same it is a system with rules and conditions for activities that might affect the environment, and it is in place for the benefit of all.
How do BTW make the resource consent process easy?
Navigating the road (of gentle or not so gentle bends) is made easier by having the right people at the table at the right time. By discussing your plans with BTW’s planning specialists early on, we can provide feasibility studies and advise on smart solutions that achieve your project outcomes while mitigating the impact of your project.
From here our role is to assist in the consenting process – advising on the type and amount of information your council will require, preparing your application (including a thorough assessment of environmental effects and community consultation) and when required guiding you through hearing processes both at Council and Environment Court level.
Our regulatory knowledge, continuous involvement in policy planning for both local and central Government, and project management skills allow us to help you navigate the array of regulatory hurdles for applications of all sizes and complexity.
How do BTW add value?
- Our multi-disciplinary consultancy – We are able to call on expertise within our own team for specific insights that lead to smart solutions. As required, BTW’s Planning Team can quickly pull together and lead multi-disciplinary teams.
- Our history in Taranaki and Waikato regions – Previous project experience, established relationships with councils, iwi and other stakeholder/interest groups are vital for delivering successful results for our clients.
BTW’s Planning specialists provide clients with comprehensive project insights that help inform decision making and provide a clear pathway through the resource consent application process.
For more information on the Resource Management Act and how it affects your plans, speak with:
Cam Twigley | Director, Planning and Environment
MNZPI | BTW Company Ltd
P: 06 759 5040 | www.btw.nz
For more general information about the RMA, visit:
https://www.trc.govt.nz/council/plans-and-reports/research-and-reviews/resource-management-act/