To process consents, we first decide if the application needs to be notified or not.

Notification ensures that those who may be affected by the activity are given the opportunity to put forward their view. Applications may be non-notified, limited notified or fully notified.

A resource consent application will be notified unless:

• a relevant Regional Plan states that the application may be considered without notification; or
• we are satisfied that:
  • the adverse environment effects of the activity will be minor and
  • all requested information has been received
  • written approval has been obtained from every person who, in the opinion of the consent authority, may
  • be adversely affected by the granting of consent
  • special circumstances apply

In assessing whether or not the activity's adverse environmental effects will be minor, we consider the following:

• the nature, scale and site of the activity
• the sensitivity of the environment (e.g. the size of the resource, ecological effects, proximity of neighbours or special areas)
• long-term or permanent effects (e.g. structures, contamination)
• off-site effects (e.g. pollution downstream or downwind)
• cumulative effects (e.g. where several people take water from the same stream)
• social and cultural effects (including Māori, historical and other issues)
• the comments of people consulted by the applicant
• risks (prospects of problems and consequences)
• mitigation (e.g. erosion control works, emission controls, safety measures)

The following persons will generally be considered adversely affected and may be required to give approval of any application that is not notified:

• landowners or occupiers of the site
• iwi or groups which have a cultural relationship with the environment
• individual(s) undertaking existing lawful uses of a resource which will be affected by the proposed activity (e.g. neighbours, downstream landowners)
• individual(s) or organisations with statutory responsibility for some aspect of a resource that may be affected (e.g. Department of Conservation, Fish and Game Council).

The aim of notification is to ensure that everyone is given an opportunity to make a submission. The following people and agencies will be notified as considered appropriate:

• owners and/or occupiers of the land adjacent landowners/occupiers likely to be affected
• the appropriate territorial authority
• Iwi - for discharges of human waste into water, possible disturbance of waahi tapu (e.g., burial grounds or old pa sites) and all forms of environmental pollution
• Fish and Game Council - for discharges into water, structures or works in riverbeds and the taking of water which may affect fish passage or habitats
• Department of Conservation - for activities in the coastal marine area or other areas where the Department has statutory responsibility
• Ministry of Transport - for major structures in navigable waters
• Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga - for possible disturbance to archaeological sites
• Ministry of Primary Industries - for marine farming.

Notice of resource consent applications will be served on all parties that the Otago Regional Council considers will be affected.

The application will be publicly notified in appropriate newspapers and a public notice placed on the site where the proposed activity will occur. This notice will call for submissions within 20 working days. If submissions are received, a hearing may be held

Non-notified applications are generally quicker and cheaper to process. We will use this procedure where appropriate, but there is an obligation to give interested parties the chance to have their say where there may be significant effects on those parties or the environment.