Timeframes for Processing Resource Consents

The Resource Management Act sets the number of working days that are allowed for each step of processing and making decisions on resource consent applications.

See this diagram for a visual picture of the timeframes:

Diagram of Resource Consent Processing Timeframes

The table below also contains the same information but in tabular form.

Process	Time Limit
Check an application is complete (e.g. that it contains an adequate Assessment of Environmental Effects and a deposit)	5 working days from the date an application is received
Make a decision on a non-notified application	20 working days from the date a complete application is received
Serve notice on affected persons (i.e. open up for submissions) for a limited notified application	10 working days from the date a complete application is received
Advertise in a public newspaper for a publicly notified application	10 working days from the date a complete application is received
Receive submissions on a publicly notified or limited notified application	20 working days from the date the application is publicly notified or notice is served on affected persons
Hold a hearing for a publicly notified or limited notified application	25 working days from the date submissions close
Release a decision after a hearing on a publicly notified or limited notified application	15 working days from the date the hearing closes
Release a decision on a publicly notified or limited notified application where there is no hearing	20 working days from the date submissions close
Applicant or submitters appeal a decision to Environment Court on a publicly notified or limited notified application	Applicant and submitters have 15 working days from the date they receive the decision

Putting Applications 'On Hold'

The Council can put consent applications on hold if we need to ask an applicant:

• for more information;
• to get written approvals from affected parties; or
• to apply for additional resource consents.

When the Council puts applications on hold it 'stops the clock' and none of the working days are counted during the period that it is on hold.

Extending the Time Limits

We sometimes extend the time limits (under section 37 of the Resource Management Act) for holding hearings or releasing decisions on applications, to allow applicants and submitters more time to negotiate consent conditions. There are rules about when we can and cannot extend the time limits.  These rules are described in Section 37A of the Resource Management Act.  If more than double the statutory time limit is needed, both the applicant and the Tasman District Council must agree.

The 'Dead Period'

The period between 20 December and 10 January each year is excluded from the working days count for all timeframes.  This means that any weekdays during this time may not count as working days.

For example, for a resource consent application lodged on 19 December, the 'clock' will not start ticking until January 11.