November 2022 newsletter

Update on processing delays

Applications are currently taking longer to process than they would have 12 months ago. We are still receiving a large number of applications, and the addition of the Proposed Waikato District Plan means more work is needed to process resource consents, which is causing delays to our processing timeframes. Like many of you, we also continue to have a number of staff and consultants on leave, due to sickness.

We apologise for the delay
We will do our best to turn things around as quickly as possible for you, but we encourage you to allow more time than usual to obtain resource consent.

What you can do to help

Ensure that you provide a complete application. This will minimise the need for us to request further information.
Consider engaging a planning consultant to prepare your application for you. Well-prepared information is usually quicker to process as they typically require less further information.

Dates for December 2022 and January 2023

Here are some important dates to be aware of:

Statutory processing clock
Both the Building Act 2004 and the Resource Management Act 1991 stop the statutory processing clock over Christmas and New Year. The period beginning 20 December and ending with the close of 10 January is excluded from the 20-working day timeframe, which means that the processing clock stops on/between these dates.
Resource Consents & Building Consents
The statutory working day clock for resource consents will stop Monday 19 December 2022 and will start again Wednesday 11 January 2023.
Any Resource or Building Consent submitted after Monday 19 December 2022 will not be processed until Wednesday 11 January 2023.
Building Inspections
The last day for building inspections is Thursday 22 December.
Duty Planner service
Our Duty Planner Service will not be available from Friday 16 December 2022 but will start again Monday 9 January 2023.
Engineering Services
Our engineering services (consent processing, plan approvals and inspections/clearances) will not be available after Friday 16 December 2022. It will start again from 9 January 2023.
LIM reports
The statutory ‘clock’ for LIM reports will stop on Monday 19 December 2022 and will start again Wednesday 11 January 2023.
Property Enquiries
Our Property Enquiry service will not be available from close of business on Friday 16 December 2022 but will start again Monday 9 January 2023.
Offices and Libraries
Our Offices & Libraries close on Friday 23 December 2022 at 12pm. They will re-open on Monday 9 January 2023.

Proposed District Plan Appeals Version and Section 86F of the RMA

Council has now released an Appeals version of the Proposed District Plan (PDP-AV). This is minus the Ohinewai Section, which is already operative.

Significant parts of the PDP-AV are still subject to appeal which means most activities will still require consent under both the PDP-AV and the ODP.

What you need to do:

Please make sure your resource consent application includes an assessment of the proposal under both the PDP-AV and the ODP with these adjustments in mind.
Check both the PDP-AV and the planning maps each time you prepare an application. The appeals version is a ‘living’ document and consequential amendments are continually changing as appeals are being resolved.

You'll find more information here, including a link to PDP-AV planning maps, showing what properties are subject to appeal.

Our response to housing intensification law changes – what happens now?

Central government has introduced new rules to increase urban density and housing choices in areas that are close to public transport, shops, jobs, schools and parks.

Waikato District Council has prepared Variation 3 to the Proposed Waikato District Plan in accordance with the Resource Management Act 1991 to accommodate these new rules.

You can read more here.

Blanket land use consent for Rangitahi - Precincts A, B and D

Since the release of the Proposed District Plan (PDP) decisions in January 2022, a number of proposed dwellings in Rangitahi have been found to be non-compliant.

Council has granted Rangitahi Limited a blanket land-use consent (LUC0577/22) for lots within Precincts A, B, C and D. This provides dispensation from a number of rules in the Appeals version of the Proposed District Plan (PDP-AV). You can read more here.

Now in effect: National Policy Statement – Highly Productive Land

The National Policy Statement for Highly Productive Land took effect on 17 October 2022. This means we need to take all relevant Policy Statement provisions into account when considering resource consent applications that have not yet been decided on. Read more.

Notice before work starts - Monitoring consents

Almost all resource consents have some monitoring conditions, designed to make sure you comply with the conditions of the resource consent. We monitor work throughout the duration of the activity to make sure it is consistent with the approved resource consent.

Our Monitoring Officers need to be advised of your start date at least 48 hours before you start work and there may be some conditions which are time sensitive (need to be actioned before works start). Please double check your consent for conditions which require completion or notification ahead of starting work.

For notification of start date you can email monitoring@waidc.govt.nz, or phone 0800 492452 and leave a message.

You’ll need to let us know:

the property address where the work will be done
your contact details
consent number
the date the work will start.

You’ll find information on our website here.

Schedule vs memorandum for easements – what’s the difference?

Memorandum of easements are compulsory easements required by Council, imposed through subdivision conditions of consent. In contrast, schedule of easements, while still providing the rights associated with easements (burden and benefited rights), are not required by Council as a condition of consent.

When creating schedules or memorandum of easements as a part of the 223/224 lodgement, please make sure you separate memorandum and schedules. We need these to be separated in order to approve a 223 package.

More information can be found on the Land Information New Zealand website.

Have your say

Reserve Management Plans – up for review
The Waikato district is home to 55 playgrounds and a whopping 484 local parks spanning a total of 2177 hectares. To manage these spaces, we have nine different Reserve Management Plans (RMPs), all of which are guided by the General Policies RMP – and it's up for review.
Take a look at the draft plan and let us know if you agree or disagree with the proposed changes by 5pm Monday 12 December.
Read more and share your feedback.

Council news

In case you missed it, here's some of the news over the past few months:

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Free phone: 0800 492 452

Email: info@waidc.govt.nz