What does being an affected person mean?

If you’re an affected person:

• An applicant may ask you to give written approval to an application for a resource consent, before they lodge it (apply) with the council. Remember, if all affected persons give their approval, and the potential effects from the activity on the wider environment are not more than minor, the council will usually process the application as a non‑notified application.
• If only some affected persons give written approval, and the potential wider environmental effects from the activity are not more than minor, the council will assess the application as limited notified. This means they contact the other affected people (who have not given written approval), and give them the opportunity to make a submission.
• If the activity’s adverse environmental effects are likely to be more than minor, the application will be publicly notified – whether or not affected persons give their written approval.
• You don’t have to give written approval if you’re unhappy with what is being proposed.
• You are entitled to make a written submission on an application if you, or any other affected party, decide not to give your written approval.