Resource Consents

Resource Consents. What happens if things change or you are running out of time?

We recently advised a client on their options for extending and amending their granted resource consent under the Resource Management Act (RMA).

Resource consents in New Zealand generally lapse after five years if the consent holder has not given effect to them, i.e. done the work.

We all know circumstances in life change, Covid, the economy, a lightbulb moment the middle of the night or curve ball is thrown your way. That means projects can be delayed, or design changes are needed to make them work in practice or fit a budget.

Under the RMA, consent holders have two main options:

• Extension of Time (section 125 RMA) – Apply to extend the life of an approved consent. This option is available to a consent holder if they have made substantial progress to implementing their consent and continue to do so.
• Variation (section 127 RMA) – Apply to change or cancel consent conditions (except for the duration or type of activity) so the project can better reflect practical needs, such as staging, design, or mitigation measures.

In some cases, you can apply for one or both together, ensuring you keep your consent live, while adjusting it to meet your changed situation or circumstances.

Our role is to help clients understand the best pathway and give them the confidence that their project will remain on track while we vary or extend the life of their consent for them.

To find out more, talk to our team at Horizon who can guide you through the process to either extend or amend your existing granted resource consent approval.

This article was written by Rakesh Mistry our Senior Planner. To find out more about our Planning and Project Management services you are click here.