Auckland Council is encouraging people seeking resource consents to consider pre-application meetings.
Resource consents general manager Ian Smallburn says the meetings can help iron out a lot of issues.
“Talking to us before submitting an application gives customers clarity on what information council wants to see in the consent application and helps them save time and money,” he says.
But talk does not come cheap. Although council offers an initial free 15-minute meeting (in person, buy phone or email) to ask questions about your project and what consents and permits may be required, there is a charge for any further meetings.
A second pre-application meeting for either a building consent or resource consent costs $287 for a standard proposal. More complex proposals require an initial deposit of $287, with further costs depending on the number of council specialists required.
However, council suggests that this could be “money well spent” to avoid delays and further information requests down the track.
Council is working on further improvements to the consenting process and will soon progressively launch online consenting for all building and resource consent applications.
