Tasman District Council scores well in consents survey

The latest RMA Survey of local authorities reflects the continued good work of the Tasman District Council.

The recent release of the Resource Management Act Survey by the Minister for the Environment Nick Smith has identified the good result Tasman District Council has achieved in processing 99% of the consents received in the timeframe allowed under the Act.

Tasman District Council Environment & Planning Manager Dennis Bush-King says the results were encouraging.

“This is especially pleasing when compared to the result of 90% three years ago when the survey was last done. The real figures of 913 consents processed with eight being over time shows the real magnitude of the improvements made.

“In a district with mixed land use ranging from intense urban to rural hinterland and all the opportunities this environment provides, our consenting staff are often called to manage complex proposals. The fact that our staff can process these within the timeframe allowed is especially pleasing,” Mr Bush-King said

Within the survey the number of time extensions under section 37 of the Act being managed by the processing staff is noted.

This process was used on approximately 32% of the consents dealt with. What is not noted in the survey are the reasons given for the time extensions, which were almost all agreed to by the applicants, Mr Bush-King said.

“A high proportion were renewed water permit applications, within the Waimea Delta zone. Consent holders continued to use water while the applications were processed in bulk.

“This approach was taken generally to ensure the predominantly rural based industry was able to continue if they met the environmental conditions of the original consent and were within the bounds of the Act.

“All in all, the survey results reflect the importance and the work done by the Council to ensure it meets its regulatory responsibilities and at the same time facilitating economic development in the District.”