Preparing your submission on a notified resource consent

Some key points to note when preparing your submission are:

  • Your submission will be more effective if it is specific and to the point.  Only discuss issues that can be addressed under the Resource Management Act and are relevant to the resource consent/s being sought.
  • Make sure you carefully read the application and its assessment of environmental effects (AEE).  Think about how the proposal will affect you and why you want to make a submission.  Be clear about which part of the proposal your views relate to and consider the ways your concerns can be addressed.
  • Focus your submission on what you see as the positive or negative environmental effects of the activity needing resource consent. You can focus on the application as a whole, or on a particular part of it.

Table 1: Examples of possible negative and positive environmental effects

Positive effects might include…

Negative effects might include…

an area’s improved visual appearance because
of extra planting and landscaping

increased noise

the upgrading of an existing historic building

impacts on traffic or pedestrian safety

extra social facilities in an area

damage to an archaeological site

better flow of traffic through the town

loss of privacy or sunlight

 

damage to wildlife habitat

Ministry for the Environment (October 2017) – Sourced from here

  • Concentrate on the most important points you want the Council to consider and ensure that you clearly state all points that you wish to raise. If you speak at the hearing, you will only be able to talk about the issues included in your written submission, so make sure you include everything you might want to speak about. You will have the ability to expand on the points raised in your submission at the hearing.
  • Your submission may either be in support of the proposal, in opposition, or it may just be an expression of your views (neutral submission).
  • A good submission clearly explains your reasons for making it and provides information that supports your views. It helps other people understand and take account of your concerns. You are entitled, as a submitter, to engage technical experts (e.g. planners, engineers, scientists, etc.) to provide expert evidence to support your case. This does not need to be provided at the time of the written submission, however any expert evidence is required to be pre-circulated to the other parties (applicant, Council and other submitters), prior to the hearing.

For further information on making a submission you should refer to the information sheet titled “Information for submitters: Preparing a submission on a notified consent” (Publication Number: INFO 812c), available on the Ministry for the Environment website - Click here