What is The Resource Management
Act?
The Resource Management Act 1991
(RMA), came into effect on 1 October 1991. It is primarily
concerned with the management of natural and physical resources. It
is the main law controlling the use of land, soil, water,
and air as well as subdivision and noise.
The Purpose of The Act
The purpose of the Resource Management
Act is to "promote the sustainable management of natural
and physical resources. In this Act, 'sustainable management'
means managing the use, development, and protection of natural
and physical resources in a way, or at a rate, which enables
people and communities to provide for their social, economic,
and cultural well-being and for their health and safety while
- Sustaining the potential of
natural and physical resources (excluding minerals) to
meet the reasonably foreseeable needs of future generations;
and
- Safeguarding the life-supporting
capacity of air, water, soil and ecosystems; and
- Avoiding, remedying, or mitigating
any adverse effects of activities on the environment." (s.e)
All decisions made under the
Resource Management Act must take this purpose into Account
Who is Responsible For What?
THE MINISTRY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
administers the Act for central government, produces guidelines
and monitors the effectiveness of the Act.
THE WAIMAKARIRI DISTRICT COUNCIL
is responsible for :
- Control of land subdivision
- Management of the effects of
activities arising from land use
- Control of activities on the
surface of the water
- Control of noise emissions
and the mitigation of the effects of noise
The District Council is required
to have a District Plan.
ENVIRONMENT CANTERBURY (previously
known as Canterbury Regional Council) is responsible for:
- Discharges to land, air, water
- Beds of rivers
- Natural hazards
- Soild conservation
- The coastal marine area
- Water (takes, diversions, damming)
- Hazardous substances
Environnment Canterbury is required
to have a Regional Policy Statement, a Regional Coastal Plan,
and may have other regional plans.
From time to time, you may need
consents from both Environment Canterbury and the Waimakairi
District Council to carry out an activity. You must
apply to each council, but the consents may be processed
jointly.
How Does The Resource Management
Act Affect You?
- If you wish to change the use
of land, carry out a new activity or subdivide land you
need to check with the District Council whether your activity
is
- Permitted; or
- Requires a resource consent
approval
- If you are adversely affected
by any new land use or activity which requires resource
consent approval, then in most cases you will be given
the opportunity to comment on the proposal.
- When a resource consent is
publicly notified you have the opportunuity to make submissions,
and to be heard the Council's Hearings Committee (see Resource
Consent Hearing Procedures).
- You have the opportunuity to
make, submissions to the new District Plan or to changes
to the operative Plans.
Cost of Making an Application
A list of charges is available
from Planning staff at Rangiora
Need to Know More?
A member of the Council's planning
staff will be happy to help if you have any further queries.
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