The Fast-track Approvals Act 2024 (the Act) is a new “one-stop shop” approvals process across a range of regulatory bodies.
It aims to make the approval process easier for projects with significant regional or national benefits.
One of two pathways can be used for projects that apply for Fast-track approval:
- The substantive process: when specific projects have been identified in the Act (listed in Schedule 2 ), they may apply directly to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for consideration by an expert panel.
- The referral process: other parties seeking to utilise the Act must first apply to the Minister for Infrastructure for approval, before then passing through the substantive process.
The EPA handles both the referral and substantive approval processes. Further information is available on the Ministry for the Environment and the EPA websites.
Council has no decision-making role in the approval processes and is considered an affected party.
Consultation and notification
The Act requires applicants to provide written notification of their intent to lodge a referral application (sections 11(1)(b) and 29(1)(aa) of the Act). In response, Council may provide the applicant with a response to the notice not later than 20 working days after receiving it.
Although there is no requirement to consult with council, ORC strongly encourages Fast-track applicants to engage with us. This is because effective pre-application discussions will support applicants to prepare an application that addresses the range of issues, planning provisions, and environmental effects that are relevant to the activity. Identifying and working through as many issues as possible prior to lodging an application will provide increased certainty about the issues that need to be resolved through the formal approval process. This will likely lead to a more efficient and less resource-intensive process once the application has been lodged.
In addition, sufficient information is needed for Council to undertake an assessment of competing applications and existing resource consents (section 30 of the Act). An accurate assessment requires Council to fully understand the approvals sought by an applicant prior to the applicant lodging their substantive application.
For more information, see the detailed consultation expectation summary:
Referral applications
The Minister receives the complete application and must invite comments, and request advice or reports from relevant local authorities. The Minister considers the application, advice or reports, and any comments received. The Minister may also seek further information from relevant local authorities.
Substantive applications
Local authorities are involved in the substantive application process, including nominating members for expert panels, and commenting on applications and draft conditions.
All listed projects and any referral projects that have been approved by the Minister, and are within the Otago region, are outlined in the document below. The status of each project is updated on a monthly basis.
Although there is no requirement to consult with council, ORC strongly encourages Fast-track applicants to engage with us. This is because effective pre-application discussions will support applicants to prepare an application that addresses the range of issues, planning provisions, and environmental effects that are relevant to the activity. This will lead to a more efficient and less resource-intensive process once the application has been lodged and may prevent decision delays.
To start the pre-application process, fill out our Fast-track consent pre-application form and email it to consent.fasttrack@orc.govt.nz. We will be in touch within five working days.
Our consents team manages all pre-applications for Fast-track approvals; however, representatives from all relevant teams may be present at consultation meetings.
Complete and send in the Request for Fast-track Consent Pre-Application Advice form above to start the consultation process.
Any person can apply to have projects of regional or national significance considered for Fast-track approval. The Fast-track Approvals Act 2024 (the Act) describes the process, including what projects are eligible and how referral decisions are made. The Minister for Infrastructure decides whether to accept projects for referral to the Fast-track process.
Applicants must provide a general level of detail in their application, sufficient to inform the Minister’s decision on whether to refer the project into the Fast-track process. There are specified criteria for assessing a referral application. For example, the Minister may consider whether a project will increase the supply of housing, address housing needs, or contribute to a well-functioning urban environment.
Depending on the project’s areas or sectors of activity, other approvals may be needed as part of the Fast-track process in addition to a resource consent or a certificate of compliance.
There is a specified form that the applicant must complete, available here: Fast-track Substantive Application Form .
This must include information such as a description of the proposed activity, a description of the site, the type of approval(s) being sought (for example, resource consents and wildlife permits), an assessment of the activity against sections 5, 6 and 7 of the Resource Management Act 1991, and an assessment of the activity against documents such as national environmental standards, the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement, a regional policy statement, and other relevant plans and regulations.
Fast-track is a permanent approvals regime for a range of infrastructure, housing, and development projects with significant regional or national benefits. Fast-track is administered by the Environmental Protection Authority.
Fast-track is a permanent approvals regime for a range of infrastructure, housing, and development projects with significant regional or national benefits. Fast-track is administered by the Environmental Protection Authority.
In general, no. There is limited opportunity for community involvement because the Act does not allow panels to give public or limited notification for comments.
The panel must invite written comment from some people or groups listed in the Act. Examples of people and organisations invited to comment include:
- relevant local authorities
- relevant iwi authorities
- Treaty settlement entities and the owners of Māori land relevant to a project
- the landowners and occupiers of land where the project is located and the adjacent land, unless they cannot be identified. Guidance: identifying adjacent land (revised May 2025)
- the Minister for the Environment, Minister for Māori Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti, Minister for Māori Development, and other relevant portfolio Ministers
- relevant administering agencies including the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment, the Environmental Protection Authority, Heritage NZ Pouhere Taonga, the Ministry of Primary Industries, the Department of Conservation, and local authorities
- other relevant groups defined in the Act for specific situations
The Fast-track website is the most useful way to find out more information about an application and its status: https://www.fasttrack.govt.nz/ . This website is hosted by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), the Crown entity responsible for Fast-track consenting.
- Freephone: 0800 FASTRK (0800 327 875)
- Overseas callers: +64 4 832 6890 (normal phone charges apply)
- Email: contact@fasttrack.govt.nz
You can also ask Council for information on the process, but most of this information is held by the EPA and you are best to contact them directly. You may also ask your councillor or local MP for assistance.
Council has no decision-making role in the approval processes. Council strongly encourages all applicants to consult with us as early as possible so that we are aware of key technical and environmental matters. In any discussions with an applicant, we raise the need to consider relevant potential environmental impacts.
Council audits and assesses an application, including any technical information and reports provided by the applicant, against Council’s rules and policies in our plans. The audit ensures that key technical and environmental matters have been addressed and that this information is provided to the expert panel and the EPA to inform their decision-making. Council will use internal staff to support this process, and consultants where needed. These audits ensure that up-to-date technical and scientific information has been included in the applications.
You are welcome to reach out to an applicant. The Fast-track website may be the most helpful way to find out more information: https://www.fasttrack.govt.nz/
Sometimes, applicants run community meetings and information sessions, which are advertised in local areas.
We recommend contacting the EPA Fast-track team:
- Freephone: 0800 FASTRK (0800 327 875)
- Overseas callers: +64 4 832 6890 (normal phone charges apply)
- Email: contact@fasttrack.govt.nz
Detailed information and a helpful flowchart diagram can be found on the fasttrack.govt.nz site to help you understand the steps and timing for the fast-track process
Key steps and timings in the Fast-track referral process
To get more information on the full (substantive) application step, head to the Substantive application for resource consents and other approvals section of fasttrack.govt.nz
Substantive application for resource consents and other approvals
