What activities need a resource consent?

Different land uses can affect water quality, land stability and the incidence of flooding. You may need a land use consent to:

• carry out soil disturbance (earthworks), vegetation clearance, roading or tracking (Waikato Regional Plan, 5.1.4) particularly if the activity is within, or adjacent to, a natural wetland (NES Freshwater Regulations 37-56)
• build or alter a bridge (Waikato Regional Plan, 4.2.8)
• construct or alter a well (Waikato Regional Plan, 3.8.4)
• construct or alter a culvert (Waikato Regional Plan, 4.2.9 and/or NES Freshwater Regulations 70/71)
• drill, tunnel, excavate or otherwise disturb the bed of a river or lake (Waikato Regional Plan, 4.3.4)
• place cleanfill onto land (Waikato Regional Plan, 5.2.5)
• erect an erosion control structure (Waikato Regional Plan, 4.2.15)
• construct or alter a ford across a waterway (Waikato Regional Plan, 4.2.11)
• remove sand or gravel from the bed of a watercourse (Waikato Regional Plan, 4.3.7)
• carry out soil cultivation near a watercourse (Waikato Regional Plan, 5.1.4)
• carry out a nitrogen discharging activity within the Lake Taupō catchment area. (Waikato Regional Plan, 3.10.5)
• operate stockholding areas (including feedlots) on farms (NES Freshwater Regulations 9-14)
• undertake agricultural intensification including change to certain land uses, increase the area of irrigation of dairy farm land, dairy support land and intensive winter grazing (NES Freshwater Regulations 15 – 25)
• undertake intensive winter grazing (NES Freshwater Regulations 26 – 31)
• apply more than 190 kgN/ha/yr from synthetic nitrogen fertiliser onto farm land (NES Freshwater Regulations 32 – 36)

NB: Note that an activity which results in the drainage of a natural wetland is now restricted, and in some cases prohibited, by the NES Freshwater Regulations 52 and 53.

Damming, diverting and taking water can affect people's ability to use the water, as well as affecting stream plant and animal life. You may need a water consent to:

• take or use water from a river, stream, dam, lake or spring (Waikato Regional Plan, 3.3)
• take or use water from an underground source (groundwater) (Waikato Regional Plan, 3.3)
• take and use water for dairy shed washdown and milk cooling (Waikato Regional Plan, 3.3.4.13)
• take or use geothermal water, heat or energy (Waikato Regional Plan, 7.6)
• construct or alter a dam or stopbank and impound water behind the structure (Waikato Regional Plan, 3.6.4)
• take, use, dam or divert water within, or within 100m of, a natural wetland (NES Freshwater Regulations 37 – 56)
• divert or reclaim a watercourse (Waikato Regional Plan, 3.6.4 and NES Freshwater Regulations 57).

Discharging contaminants into the environment can affect water, air and soil quality. There can be serious impacts on the health and safety of people, animals and plants. A discharge consent may be required for:

• discharge stormwater, or potentially contaminated or sediment-laden water into water, or onto or into land
• discharge farm animal effluent into water, or onto or into land (Waikato Regional Plan, 3.5.5)
• discharge treated human sewage onto or into land or water (Waikato Regional Plan, 3.5.7)
• discharge treated or untreated wastes into water, or onto or into land
• involve dumping or landfills (Waikato Regional Plan, 5.2.6 & 5.2.7)
• create odours
• involve intensive indoor farming of pigs, broiler chickens or mushrooms (Waikato Regional Plan, 6.1.5)
• discharge dust, steam or other matter into the air
• discharges to, or within 100m of, a natural wetland which are likely to have adverse effects on the hydrological functioning, habitat, or biodiversity values of the wetland (NES Freshwater Regulations 37 – 56).

Coastal consents help protect the resources in the Waikato region's coastal marine area (CMA). This is a defined area of foreshore, seabed, coastal water, and air space above the sea. Spring high tide lines (‘mean high water springs’) extend the CMA further inland if the line crosses a river.  It may pay to seek advice as to the exact location of the CMA if you are seeking consent in that vicinity.

You may need a coastal consent (under the Regional Coastal Plan to:

• remove or introduce plants
• take or use water
• discharge potentially contaminated water or water containing sediment
• discharge treated or untreated wastes
• dam or divert water
• remove or deposit sand, shell, shingle or other natural materials
• erect, place, use or occupy space for a structure
• construct or alter a jetty or a marina
• build erosion protection walls
• operate a marine farm
• use a vehicle
• dredge
• carry out drainage works
• carry out a reclamation
• carry out a declamation.