Consultation involves discussions on a project for which a person wishes to apply for a resource consent with anyone who may be affected, or who may have an interest in the environment in general. This can include your neighbours, tangata whenua, environmental groups, specific interest groups, Fish and Game New Zealand, other users of the resource, the Department of Conservation, etc.

Consultation involves hearing concerns about your proposal and genuinely seeking ways that your proposal can be modified to meet such concerns.

Why consult?

In most cases, consultation will help in the smooth processing of a resource consent application.

Time and effort spent in consultation before your application is presented to Environment Canterbury can mean considerable savings by avoiding lengthy and costly pre-hearings, hearings and appeals.

In your application, you will need to include details of who you have consulted with and the outcome of those consultations. If you do not furnish evidence of consultation with your application, Environment Canterbury may return your application to you and ask for those details. Alternatively, Environment Canterbury may, with your consent, consult affected parties for you, but in that case you will be charged for staff time and any other expenses.

Who to consult?

If you are uncertain who to consult, contact Environment Canterbury for advice. However, it is wise to consider the following groups:

Adjacent landowners.
Other users of the resource, e.g. downstream users of a river you wish to take water from or discharge contaminants into.
Iwi groups, local Maori (tangata whenua).
The Department of Conservation.
Fish and Game.
Environmental groups, e.g. Forest and Bird.
Any other people who are likely to be affected by your project.

Steps in consultation

Discuss with Environment Canterbury staff the extent of the consultation you will be expected to undertake.
Make contact with the people or organisations you wish to consult with. This is probably best done by starting with a phone call followed up by a personal visit.
Keep a record of your consultation - who was consulted, the date, the topics discussed and any decisions reached. Include any information that may be helpful in presenting your application to Environment Canterbury.
Report the outcome of any consultation in your application - the concerns of those consulted, your response to those concerns and how you intend to address those concerns in your proposal.

If at any stage through the process you require advice, do not hesitate to contact Environment Canterbury staff.