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Have your say
You have the right to express your views on activities that may affect you.
Anyone applying for a consent has to consider how the proposed activity might affect other people. Talk with the applicant about your concerns. If you feel that your views do not get considered, you can still be involved by making a submission on the application.
Anybody, person or party, may make a submission on a notified consent application. Refer below. There are no costs from Environment Waikato when making a submission.
Making a submission
You can only make submissions on notified applications. Make sure that you fully understand what the application is about and what the effects will be. Talk first with the applicant, staff at Environment Waikato and your own professional advisers.
There may be other people, such as neighbours or a local environmental group, who feel the same way as you about a proposed activity. Pool these resources and make a joint submission. You can do this by forming a community group and appointing a spokesperson. Equal consideration is given to joint submissions and individual submissions from the same people. If you make a joint submission, make sure that you clearly identify a contact person.
Agreements are often reached without going through the formal process. Only make a submission if you feel that your concerns or support will not be taken into account any other way.
Preparing your submission
Your submission will be more effective if it is specific and to the point. Only discuss issues that can be addressed under the Resource Management Act and are relevant to the resource consents being sought.
The public notice will provide details for viewing the application and contacting the applicant. Make sure you carefully read the application and its assessment of environmental effects (AEE). If you need more information on anything, ask the applicant or staff at Environment Waikato.
Think about how the proposal will affect you and why you want to make a submission. Be clear about which part of the proposal your views relate to and consider the ways your concerns can be addressed. Concentrate on the most important points you want the council to consider.
Your submission may either be in support of the proposal, in opposition, or it may just be an expression of your views (neutral submission).
A good submission clearly explains your reasons for making it and provides information that supports your views. It helps other people understand and take account of your concerns.
Lodging a submission
Your submission must be made on the correct form, available below in PDF format or from our office. We need your original version - not a copy. Sign and date your submission, and always send a copy of it to the consent applicant. The applicant's address will be given in the public notice.
Don’t leave it to the last minute. If your submission is late we may not be able to accept it. The closing date and time will be specified in the public notice, and you usually have 20 working days following public notification to make your submission. Allow plenty of time for posting or couriers.
Submission form
Use the form below to make a submission on a notified resource consent application. Please note that you can only view, print or copy this version of our submission form. You cannot make your submission online.
Submission form
(197 kb, 28 seconds to download, 56k modem)
Submission form
(55 kb, 7 seconds to download, 56k modem)
Contact us or call Environment Waikato’s Resource Use Freephone 0800 800 402 if you would prefer us to post, fax or email a submission form to you.
More information
Environment Waikato may invite you to attend a meeting or meetings with other people interested in the application. These are known as pre-hearing meetings. If issues are unable to be resolved at these meetings, then the application and submissions will be considered by an independent hearing committee.
Find out more about some of Environment Waikato's publicly notified consent applications.
The Ministry for the Environment website also provides a range of guides for the public about resource management and consent processes, including making submissions.