Consultations

Processing consent applications is typically simpler, quicker and less costly if you have consulted with those who may be affected by the activity you want to carry out.

The Resource Management Act 1991 requires the applicant to carry out the consultation, not the Regional Council.

You can ensure you’ve carried out good consultation by:

• giving people sufficient information to understand your proposal and the likely effects it may have on them
• allowing sufficient time for them to assess and respond to the information
• considering and taking into account their responses.

Why consult?

The Resource Management Act requires all applicants to consult with any affected persons before lodging a consent application. The scope of the consultation required should correspond to the scope of the proposed activity.

Consultation will identify both the potential and actual environmental effects. It will also act as a guide to the amount of public concern surrounding an application. Concerns can be discussed directly with the relevant parties and some areas of potential conflict defused prior to the application being made.

Although we don’t not have a statutory role in these discussions, we can help an applicant and any interested parties on clarification of any procedural matters.  Email council staff if you’d like advice.

Applicants should consult with all affected parties and, if possible obtain, their written approval, particularly for non-notified applications (Section 94 of the Resource Management Act).

Potentially affected parties

Affected parties will depend on the location and type of activity, some of the typically affected parties in Otago include:

Department of Conservation

Visit the Department of Conservation website

• Telephone: 03 4770 677
• Interests include fish species.

Fish and Game New Zealand

Visit the Fish and Game website

• Telephone: 03 615 8400 - For catchments north of Shag Point, contact Central South Island Fish and Game Council. 
• Telephone: 03 4779 076 - For all other catchments within Otago, contact Otago Fish and Game Council.
• Interests include sport fish and game birds.

Public health services

Visit the Public Health South (Southern DHB) website

• Telephone: 03 442 2500 - For the Queenstown area, contact Public Health South.
• Telephone: 03 474 1700 - For all other areas of Otago, contact Public Health Service of Health Care Otago.
• Interests include portable water supplies and sewage.

City and district councils

Dunedin City Council - Tel: 03 477 400
Visit the Dunedin City Council website

Clutha District Council - Tel: 03 418 1350
Visit the Clutha District Council website

Central Otago District Council - Tel: 03 448 6979
Visit the Central Otago District Council website

Queenstown Lakes District Council - Tel: 03442 7330
Visit the Queenstown Lakes District Council website

Waitaki District Council - Tel: 03 434 8060
Visit the Waitaki District Council website

Interests include potable water supplies and where land is being subdivided or significant structures are being constructed. If a resource consent is required from both the Otago Regional Council and the City or District Council, the applications may have to be considered jointly.

Iwi via Aukaha

258 Stuart Street
Dunedin

Phone:  (03) 477-0071
Email:  info@aukaha.co.nz
Post:  P O Box 446, Dunedin 9054

Areas of special interest to Kāi Tahu are:

• Any activity in the coastal enviroment
• Any activity on the surface of water
• The disposal of effluent
• Any activity that results in the removal of indigenous vegetation
• Any activity that is located within 20m of the mean high water springs or within 20m of a river, lake or wetland
• The disturbance of land if it affects:
  • Landscapes of importance to Kāi Tahu
  • Sites of significance wāhi tapu (sacred site or place) and wāhi taoka (valued possession, treasure eg. lake, river, Māori language)

New Zealand Historic Places Trust

Visit the NZ Historic Places Trust website

Otago/Southland Area Office
P.O. Box 5467
Dunedin

Ph. 03 477 9871
Fax. 03 477 3893

Interests include archaeological sites (eg. Maori, European or Chinese pre-1900 AD) and built heritage.

Landowners

These include adjacent landowners and downstream users.

Interests include water takes and discharges.