Fast-track approvals

Our role in fast-track applications is to:

• provide advice before the application is submitted
• provide information and comments on the application to decision-makers.
• monitor approved resource consents to ensure compliance with consent conditions.

Waikato Regional Council is not a decision-maker for applications that use the fast-track approvals process. Instead, decisions are made by the Minister for Infrastructure (for referral applications), or an expert consenting panel appointed by the EPA (for substantive applications). While the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) provides a comprehensive framework for managing resources sustainably, the FTAA introduces an overriding purpose focused on enabling these specific projects, with decision-making criteria that can prevail over RMA considerations, such as those in national policy direction. 

Before lodging a substantive or referral application, the FTAA requires that applicants consult with a range of parties, including Waikato Regional Council for applications in our region. Applicants should start discussions with us early in the process.

The FTAA does not prescribe any specific requirements for the form or duration of pre-application consultation. For consultation to be adequate, the opportunity for input must be meaningful.

Waikato Regional Council expects that pre-application consultation would include:

• The applicant providing Waikato Regional Council with as much information about the proposal as they are able to. This would include the following:
  • a description of the proposal, plans or other drawings describing the proposal,
  • the resource consents sought for the activity; 
  • an assessment of applicable policies and/or rules in the Waikato Regional Policy Statement, Waikato Regional Plan and Waikato Coastal Plan (including any Plan Changes) and any National Environmental Standards,
  • an assessment of environmental effects,
  • supporting technical assessments,
  • information about how the proposal aligns with any other relevant statutory plans, policies or strategies prepared by Waikato Regional Council, and
  • information on consultation undertaken with other parties (including mana whenua and other local authorities).
• Waikato Regional Council officers considering the proposal and providing feedback to the applicant. This may include feedback from subject matter experts on the proposal.
• The applicant indicating to us how Waikato Regional Council’s feedback will inform the development of the application.

The amount of time needed to undertake pre-application consultation will depend on the scale and complexity of the proposal. If you would like to arrange pre-application consultation with Waikato Regional Council, please get in touch at WRCfasttrackapps@waikatoregion.govt.nz

Waikato Regional Council will recover from applicants all actual and reasonable costs incurred during pre-application consultation as enabled by the FTAA.  The rates charged will be in accordance with Waikato Regional Council’ s fees and charges as set out in the Annual Plan. 

Section 30 of the FTAA requires applicants to notify Waikato Regional Council before they lodge a substantive application. When notification from an applicant is received under section 30, Waikato Regional Council is required to advise the applicant of whether there is any existing resource consent to which section 124C(1)(c) or 165ZI of the RMA applies in relation to the substantive application.

If you would like to send a section 30 notification to Waikato Regional Council, please send a request to WRCfasttrackapps@waikatoregion.govt.nz

Waikato Regional Council will recover from applicants all actual and reasonable costs incurred in carrying out obligations under section 30 as enabled by the FTAA. The rates charged will be in accordance with Waikato Regional Council’s fees and charges as set out in the Annual Plan.