Water Take Consent Renewal
If your water take consent is due to expire in the next 12-18 months, now is the time to take action. Increasing demand for water resources combined with evolving regulations across the country mean that gaining a new consent is not guaranteed. Acting early ensures that you have sufficient time to navigate this complex (and sometimes lengthy) process, reducing the risks to business continuity
Why do I need to renew my consent?
In recent years, Bay of Plenty catchments have seen increasing demand for water resources. Many are fully allocated, or close to it. As a result, gaining a new consent may not be straightforward, especially if your water take was granted under old standards that no longer apply.
What is the process?
Gaining a replacement water take consent is more than just filling out some forms. Starting early (i.e at least 12 months prior to the expiry date) gives you plenty of time to assess your needs, gather data, assess your infrastructure and consult with stakeholders.
Step 1: Assess and justify your needs. Providing data (including volumes, trends, compliance history, efficiencies, and your future aspirations) helps to demonstrate why you need the water, and how you use it responsibly.
Step 2: Consult with stakeholders. Your water take may affect a sensitive environment, it may impact cultural values, or it may impact other users. Consulting early allows the stakeholders with time to respond, giving you plenty of time to address any concerns. Leaving this too late may result in the late identification of concerns and time delays in the processing of the consent.
Step 3: Assessing your existing water take infrastructure is required to check if it meets current technical requirements or if upgrades are required. This work may require specialist water infrastructure advice. If upgrades are required, understand the costs and timing of these upgrades early is important as is describing them in the application.
Step 4: Prepare and lodge a resource consent application. This should include an Assessment of Effects, any relevant technical reports, monitoring and metering data, and mitigation of any adverse effects. Lodging a replacement consent application at least 6 months prior to expiry enables the water take to continue under the existing consent until the replacement is granted. Lodging an application closer than 6 months to the expiry date does not guarantee this right.
How can Cheal help?
Cheal planners have extensive experience across New Zealand in obtaining water take consents. From tourism to primary industry, we can guide and assist in obtaining replacement water take consents . We understand the necessity of reducing regulatory risk to business by working to lodge and secure such consents in a timely manner, working with you every step of the way.
