Waiting Lists for Fully Allocated Zones

In fully allocated Water Management Zones the Council has established waiting lists to record, in chronological (date) order, when potential water users first register an interest in being granted a new water permit to take water.  The waiting list approach guides the re-allocation of any water that may become available in the future in that zone.

If you want to register your name on a waiting list you must demonstrate that a need for water actually exists and, particularly in water-short areas, you must also adequately account for alternative water supplies.  In zones where the Council maintains a waiting list, a condition that the consent lapses if it has not been exercised within two years will also be imposed to ensure water available for abstraction is actually used.

Order of Priority

The Council’s waiting list policy specifies the process to be followed in order to establish priority for new water that might become available in a fully allocated zone.  In establishing waiting lists, priority for potential water users is assigned according to the following criteria in descending order of priority:

  1. whether the potential water user has demonstrated to Council a need for the water quantity applied for; and
  2. whether water has been reserved under Policy 30.2.3.5.

Where no ‘priority in time’ can be determined, then priority will be assigned according to:

  1. whether a need for water can be demonstrated;
  2. whether there is compliance with relevant Plan rules;
  3. new users before existing permit holders;
  4. underground takes (which will normally be preferred over takes from surface waters);
  5. priority uses as listed in Policy 30.2.3.1;
  6. any remaining registrations assigned priority by chance.

If water becomes available, the Council will notify the person(s) who are first (on the top) on the waiting list and invite that person(s) to make an application (i.e. in the order of registrations on that waiting list).

A person who does not have priority can only otherwise achieve priority if they obtain the prior written approval of all other persons with prior registrations on the waiting list.  Lastly, the waiting list process is complemented by a prohibition on any application by anyone not in priority order on a waiting list.

The Waiting List and Registrations

To view the waiting list:

To download a registration form:

A $350 fee is payable with each registration.