Resource consent FAQ and resources

Our Compliance and Monitoring team help to ensure the protection and enhancement of the Hurunui district's natural and built environments.

We achieve this through education, monitoring and enforcement of resource consent conditions and compliance with the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA). This can include:

• Monitoring and enforcing land use consent conditions.
• Monitoring compliance with the requirements of the Hurunui District Plan and the RMA.
• Responding to and investigating district plan and resource consent related complaints.
• Working with property owners and the public to achieve compliance with the District Plan and resource consent conditions.
• Enforcement action in relation to illegal building works.

Any enforcement action is taken on a case-by-case basis in accordance with our Complaints, Compliance and Enforcement Policy.

Land can be potentially contaminated if a past or present land use has included hazardous activities and/or industries. The use, storage or disposal of hazardous substances can sometimes contaminate the soil. Where this happens the soil may remain contaminated for many years after the use has stopped.

How can I find out if a property is potentially contaminated?

1. Check Environment Canterbury's Listed Land Use Register (LLUR): https://llur.ecan.govt.nz/
2. Contact the Duty Planner on 03-314 8816 or planning@hurunui.govt.nz

Note: The LLUR is not an absolute record of potentially contaminated land in the district, and is updated as new information is provided. Sometimes land is locally listed, e.g. land used for viticulture activities, and does not appear on the LLUR. Contact the duty planner for further information.

Unless prior investigation of a site has been undertaken, listing on the LLUR only means there is potential for the land to be contaminated due to a past or present land use. The only way to confirm if soil is actually contaminated is for testing to be undertaken.

My property is potentially contaminated. What does this mean?

See Environment Canterbury's website for more detail.

In terms of developing your property if this includes disturbing the soil (e.g. anything from digging holes for pile foundations to excavation works) or subdividing the property, you may require resource consent. This will largely depend on the amount of soil to be disturbed and whether you are planning on taking the soil offsite or not. Contact the duty planner to find out more.

Hanmer Springs Design Standards

Click here for a how to guide on using the ePlan.

The ePlan is an electronic version of the District Plan. It has interactive mapping features to help you find information relevant to you, or you can read it like a book.

When thinking about subdividing your property you should be aware that getting resource consent to subdivide your property is just the first step. Before new records of title can be issued for the new allotments, two more tasks need to be completed:

1. Section 223 certification

This needs to be applied for within 5 years of receiving your resource consent decision.

How do I get my 223 certificate? Once your Registered Surveyor has completed their final survey they will make an application for one through Land Information New Zealand (LINZ). The application includes the Title Plan showing all new and existing lots, as well as any amalgamations, easements and access arrangements (rights of way) for all lots.

Council Officers then receive this application. Their job is to check the Title Plan submitted matches the scheme plan approved with the subdivision consent. Once the Officer is satisfied both plans match, they sign off and issue you with your 223 certificate through LINZ. Officers will then assign the new lots with street numbers.

2. Section 224 certification

This needs to be obtained within 3 years of the 223 certificate being signed.

How do I get my 224 certificate? Once you have met all the conditions of your subdivision consent you can apply for the 224 certificate. Your application must show how you have met each condition. Council Officers will review the supporting documents supplied, including:

• as built plans showing new services
• confirmation of site inspections
• confirmation the relevant development contributions have been paid

to assess whether all the conditions of the subdivision consent have been complied with. Once the Officer is satisfied all conditions have been met, they sign off and issue you with your 224 certificate through LINZ. The Title Plans will be issued with consent notices if the conditions of your consent require this. The consent notices must then be lodged with LINZ by your solicitor.