Welcome to the latest edition of the Far North District Council Resource Consent Newsletter. As a community, we thrive
on effective engagement and transparent communication. This quarterly publication is designed to foster a better understanding of our resource consent processes, ensuring you are well-informed and equipped to participate in shaping our region's future. In
this edition, we will be sharing updates on our council staff, highlighting the dedicated individuals working diligently to serve our community. Our team remains committed to providing clear and accessible interpretations of our policies and rules, making
it easier for you to navigate the intricacies of resource consents.
We also recognize the importance of guidance when preparing applications. This newsletter includes valuable tips and
insights to assist you in preparing and submitting your applications efficiently and accurately. Additionally, we will address other critical matters relevant to our community, keeping you informed about important developments and opportunities to engage with
the council. Your feedback and participation are crucial in our ongoing efforts to improve and adapt our services to meet your needs. Thank you for your continued support and engagement. Together, we can ensure the sustainable and prosperous development of
our beautiful Far North district.
Ngā mihi nui,
XXXXX (leader’s name )
Overview – What’s up on FNDC consenting space in 2024
Over the past six months, development activity has slowed slightly, resulting
in a decrease in consent applications. This slowdown has provided us with a valuable opportunity to review our processes, make improvements, and ensure we are well-prepared for an increase in activity.
Our efforts have led to noticeable improvements in our application processing times, with over 86% of new resource consents being issued on time.
We have achieved this while maintaining the necessary rigour and quality in our decision-making. Additionally, we are exploring ways to better support the entire resource consent process and provide guidance to the sector, ensuring that each stage of the process
can be progressed more efficiently.
Fees and Charges from 1 July 2024
Council's fees and charges have been updated as of 1 July 2024.
As part of our ongoing efforts to enhance our services, we have implemented slight increases to our fees and charges. This adjustment is essential to maintain the high quality of service we provide. We encourage all applicants to familiarise themselves with
the new fee structure to avoid any unexpected charges during the application process. Please note that we are still in the consultation phase and anticipate making a few additional minor adjustments to our fees and charges. We appreciate your understanding
and cooperation.
The link of the latest fees and charges booklet is in the link below
Given the Far North District Plan was operative 15 years ago, the case law R J Davidson Family Trust v Marlborough District Council [2018] NZCA
316 may not apply to our current district plan. As a result, we kindly request that all applications include a full comprehensive assessment against Part Two of the Resource Management Act (RMA). Applications that fail to include this assessment may be returned
under Section 88(3).
New Application Form
We are pleased to announce that a new application form is now available online. This form has
been designed to provide clearer instructions to all applicants and to improve our overall service. We request that you use this new form for all future applications to ensure a smooth and efficient process.
The link of the new application form is: XXXXX
Duty Enquiry
Due to the high volume of enquiries, we receive, we kindly ask that you submit a Request for Service
(RFS) for any enquiries, particularly those of a more complex nature, rather than calling us. This approach allows us to better file and track your enquiries, ensuring a more efficient and organised response.
Staff Updates
Part of the realignment of what was District Services into the and is now Delivery
& Operations Group, saw FNDC reinstating the position of a Resource Consents Manager. This also brought the planning administration team back in the resource consents space. We have the fabulous Leeara Maxwell managing a team of six RMA Support
Officers, one of those being Didi Parone, who has been with FNDC for over 22 years.
Other changes include bringing on board Nadia De La Guerre as ourTeam Leader
for RC Engineerin,. Nadia has joined us following a long stint as Team Leader RC Engineering at the Whangarei District Council. We have also been lucky enough to gain some additional FTE’s and when fully staffed Nadia will manage a team of six engineers, including
2 seniors.
The team has two new Planning Team Leaders Tianxu (Brian) Huang and Nick Williamson.
Both Nick and Brian manage teams consisting of Senior, Intermediate, Resource and Consent Planners, Duty Planner and a Planning Technician. We were very lucky to engage an experienced Principal Planner Nicola Cowley, who keeps us all on the straight and narrow.
Once all vacancies are filled we will have 18 planners and six engineers (this includes the TL’s Principal and the Manager).
In the next quarterly we profile one of the four teams in more depth.
