Drive to clear backlog of incomplete resource consents

Manukau City Council is calling on people whose resource consent applications have been on hold for more than six months to send in missing information.

The drive to clear a backlog of incomplete resource consents is part of the council’s commitment to improving processing times for consents.

City Form and Environment Portfolio Leader Sharon Stewart says a considerable amount of staff time and resources have gone into the consent applications.

“Clearing the back log by completing or closing the applications will improve processing times and allow the council to recoup costs,” Cr Stewart says.

All applicants whose consent has been on hold for more than six months following a council request for more information will receive a letter from the council. It will ask them to provide the information needed to complete their consent within 10 days. If this doesn’t happen the consent can be declined and the applicant asked to cover all the costs of processing.

Cr Stewart says it is a reminder that resource consent applications have to be filled in properly and all the necessary information should be provided.

"Without all the information required by the Resource Management Act the council can’t make a decision on resource consents. The act allows applications to be declined if there isn’t enough information to determine the consent.”

An average of 56 per cent of non notified resource consent applications are completed within the 20 working day statutory timeframe. The council is committed to improving processing times.