Christchurch City is continually striving to improve its process for dealing with resource consent applications. As part of this commitment, we have created the Streamline Resource Consent Application Programme that is committed to providing applicants with a better and faster service.
From 5 January 2010, “approved consultants” will be able to prepare and submit applications for resource consent on the applicant’s behalf in a compressed format, which will result in a quicker turnaround and lower Council processing fees. The programme will be particularly beneficial for applicants who are not familiar with the requirements for resource consent applications or for regular applicants such as housing companies, medium density housing developers, and garage companies.
For more information on the Streamlined Application Programme, view our information sheet:
How to apply to be an approved consultant
The criteria for entry is completing the application form below. It must be submitted by an approved consultant.
Applications are to be sent to:
Resource Management Manager
Christchurch City Council
PO Box 237
Christchurch 8140
Process scope and business rules
Business Drivers
The main business drivers for this initiative are to:
- Reduce resource consent processing times;
- Reduce the cost of consent processing for applicants;
- Reduce the workloads for in-house planners; and
- Improve KPI’s.
Process Scope
- Applications will be received by approved consultants in the Council report/decision format;
- Approved consultants will be advertised on the Council website. Consultants will be accepted into the programme as long as they can meet the business rules (e.g. they have properly qualified persons employed in their company);
- Applications will only be accepted which do not require expert or specialist advice and that are not complex, sensitive, contentious or large scale applications;
- Where written approvals are deemed necessary by the Council they are provided with the application at time of lodgement;
- Notwithstanding the above pre-conditions the Council may from time to time accept other applications in to the process but this will be entirely the decision of the Council whether or not to do so.
- Applications will be required to be accepted by way of a lodgement meeting where vetting of the application can take place prior to acceptance into the programme; and
- The Resource Management Officer Sub-Committee consider the merits of the application and make the decision on notification and the substantive decision.
Anticipated outcomes
Business Rules
- All consultants using this process will be required to be accepted in to the programme. Whether or not to accept the consultant is at the discretion of the Resource Management Manager or Planning Administration Manager;
- The report/decision must be prepared or peer reviewed by a full member of the New Zealand Planning Institute and/or an equivalent person with significant (i.e. 5 years plus) experience in processing resource consent applications;
- A Christchurch City Council application form (Form 9) along with necessary application material (e.g. plans) is required to accompany the council report/decision prepared by the consultant – although page 2 is not required to be completed;
- If there is any doubt whatsoever about the eligibility of an application into the programme or the information required to be provided with the application (such as written approvals), the consultant should make an appointment for a pre-application meeting to confirm;
- If the Council believes the consultant has not adequately assessed a matter within the application concerned, not provided necessary information, the quality is not deemed adequate, or a written approval has not been provided, then the Council will consult directly with the consultant;
- If an agreement can be decided upon, then the consultant/consultancy is responsible for amending the application accordingly;
- If there is a difference of professional opinion between the consultant and the Council officer processing the application, the Council officer will forward the application to the relevant Team Leader to be resolved. If an agreement cannot be decided upon and/or the application is not amended accordingly, then the application concerned will not be processed under the Streamlined Resource Consent Application Programme.
List of approved consultants
