How to make a submission

Public notified vs limited notified

Any person can submit on a publicly notified consent application. An application is publicly notified when the Council has advertised the application on its website and in the public notices section of the newspaper.

For any limited notified application only those specific people served notice by the Council can make a submission. The Council decides who these people are, assessed against legal tests under the Resource Management Act 1991. 

No-one can make a submission if the Council's decision was to process the application as non-notified. Most resource consent applications proceed this way. Many applicants change their proposals to reduce adverse effects and to get written approvals, or even withdraw their applications.  

Joint submissions

If others feel the same way as you about the application, you should consider making a joint submission - that is by forming a community group and appointing a spokesperson.

One joint submission has the same weight as if all the individuals made their own submissions. Make sure you clearly identify the contact person for the submission.

Trade competitors

If you are a trade competitor, your right to make a submission may be limited by the trade competition provisions in Part 11A of the Resource Management Act 1991.

You have 20 working days after the application is notified to make your submission.

We always include the closing date for submissions in the website or newspaper notice, sign or letter from the Council.

Make sure you get your submission to the Council in time, as submissions may not be accepted after the closing date.

You must also send a copy to the applicant as soon as you reasonably can after you've sent it to the Council.

View currently notified resource consent applications

The submission form leads you through all the information you need to include.

You can either use the Tasman District Council submission form or write your own submission

Form for submission on resource consent application.pdf (pdf 175 KB)

Step 1 - understand the application

• Read the application carefully. 
• If necessary, print out the important parts of the application and include them with your submission.
• Study the applicant's assessment of envrionmental effects (AEE).
• The application documents and the AEE help define the exact scope of what the applicant is applying for and what Council can consider.
• Refer to the Tasman Resource Management Plan. It's available at our Council offices, libraries and on this website.

Step 2 - write your submission

Your submission must be in writing and clearly state:

• Your full name, address, telephone number, and email address (we do prefer email as it makes it more efficient for us to send you the formal notices we're obliged to do).
• Whether you support or oppose the application, or wish to make a neutral submission.
• The particular parts of the application you support or oppose (if possible, refer to a specific page or section of the application).
• Your reasons why you support or oppose the application.
• The decision you want the Council to make as a result of your submission.
• Any conditions you feel should be imposed if the consent is granted (regardless as to whether you support, are neutral, or oppose).
• Whether you want to speak in support of your submission at a hearing.
• Any other information that you think is important for the Council to know in making a decision on the application.

How to make your submission as effective as possible.

• Explain your reasons for supporting or opposing the application clearly, so the Council can understand your views.
• Be specific about how the proposal affects you and/or the environment and suggest how you think any adverse effects could be managed, minimised or avoided.
• Deal with the facts and provide examples, where appropriate.
• Make sure your concerns or views relate to the activity applied for, rather than activities that can't be addressed under the Resource Management Act. We can only consider the environmental effects associated with the specifics of the proposal. We also cannot take into account trade or business competition.
• If relevant, suggest alternatives to the proposed approach, together with your reasons.
• If you want particular conditions placed on a consent application, explain why.

You can get more information about making a submission from the Ministry for the Environment.

Link to the Ministry for the Environment's Everyday guide to the Resource Management Act - making a submission.

You can lodge your submission with Tasman District Council (Resource Consents Administration Officer) in any of the following ways:

1. Email it to the Council at [email protected]
2. Hand deliver it to any of our Council offices, or
3. Mail it to Private Bag 4, Richmond 7031,

You must also send a copy of your submission to the applicant.

Confirming we've got your submission

As soon as the submission period closes, we will write or email you to confirm that we've received your submission.

Finding out about the other submissions

We don't send you copies of the other submissions received. If the application was publicly notified you can find them on our website.

If the applciation was limited notified, contact us with an email and we will make them available to you electonically. 

Your submission and the consent planner's recommendation

Our consent planners consider your submission when they make their recommendation.

The issues raised in submissions are always discussed in the Council consent planner's report presented to the decision maker.  If it's going to a hearing this is the section 42A report done by the Council staff for the Hearing Committee or Comissioner.

If you asked to speak at the Hearing we will always send you a link to that report so you can see the recommendation. 

Right to be heard

You have the right to speak to the decision-maker. If you choose this, the decision making process involves having a hearing.

Right to ask for an independent commissioner

A submitter can also ask that the decsion maker is an independent commissioner (rather than local councillors). 

Any request for the application to be heard by a commissioner must be made no later than 5 working days after the closing date for submissions. However, if his right is exercised and it increases the cost, then the submitter may be asked to contribute a portion to the increased costs (depending on how much and whether a commissioner would have been used anyway).

Right of appeal

A submitter may also have appeal rights to the Environment Court on any decsion made by the Council.