Applying to the Environmental Protection Authority
Matters (applications for resource consents, notices of requirement or requests for regional plans or private plan changes) can be lodged directly with the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA). The point of applying directly to the EPA, instead of to the relevant council, is to obtain a more streamlined decision-making process. The Minister can only refer a matter to a board of inquiry or the Environment Court that is or is part of a proposal of national significance. So you should not lodge a matter with the EPA unless you think that it is nationally significant.
The process of applying to the EPA is similar to applying to a council and the 'Applying to the EPA' guide provides information about the process.
The rigorous processes for matters of national significance and, in particular, the tight timeframes for processing these mean that applicants will need to be well prepared.
If you are considering lodging a matter with the EPA you should contact the EPA as early as possible to obtain guidance about pre- and post- lodgement process and to ensure that you submit a complete application.
read more about the pre-lodgement process
From the date a matter is lodged, the EPA has 20 working days to provide a recommendation to the Minister for the Environment about whether the matter is nationally significant and whether it should be referred to a board of inquiry or the Environment Court. Applications that are not complete will not be progressed until all the required information has been received, which will inevitably delay the processing time of the application.
read more about the post-lodgement process
The Minister makes a direction about whether to refer a matter that has been lodged with the EPA to a board of inquiry or the Environment Court.
If the Minister does not refer a matter that has been lodged with the EPA to a board of inquiry or the Environment Court, the EPA will send the matter to the relevant local authority. The local authority will then be responsible for dealing with the matter in the ordinary way.
read more about the Minister's direction
Last updated: 1 October 2009
