Take your time

These might include short-term effects from construction, such as noise and dust, as well as longer-term effects from the activity, such as glare from lights, or a building blocking your sun. You might also need to think about your future relationship with the applicant, especially if you’re neighbours.

If you give your written approval, you’re saying the activity is fine by you. This means the council cannot consider any adverse effects on you when it decides whether to notify the application and, later, whether to grant or decline the application.

There is no legal time limit on how long you can take to give your written approval – but be fair. You should let the applicant know what you think as soon as you feel you understand what the application might mean for you.

Don’t feel you have to sign anything straight away. You can:

• ask the applicant to leave the plans and the AEE with you
• ask for more information or clarification about particular aspects of the proposal
• get advice from a lawyer, engineer, planning consultant or other expert
• ask council staff for guidance about the process.

Councils

Most applications for resource consents are processed by local councils, and council staff can provide some help and information. They can:

• tell you about the resource consent process
• answer your questions about the application itself.

Council staff can’t:

• tell you whether you should or should not give your written approval
• enforce a side agreement (see Can I bargain about other things?)
• accept a conditional approval.