Fast Track Resource Consents

Fast Track Approvals Act 2024 was designed to speed up big projects about infrastructure and large scale developments, wind farms, solar farms, motorways, housing.

• The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is the decision maker and oversees the consent process.

• Local Councils do not make decisions, they only identify issues- CODC input is weaken compared to the traditional model of resource consents. When application is lodged, the EPA checks with Councils if they have sufficient information about the application, not a calibre check on the quality of the information. 

• Fast Track Consents do not have the traditional resource consent pathways intentionally so there is no ability to make submissions, Local and Regional Councils are invited to make comments. The Act was designed to avoid submission by members of the public.

• Local and Regional Council are involved in limited areas: 1. Key Issue Report on the Application: Assessment of the application and identification of issues that could cause any effect in the region. There is no room for opinion or decision on Council's side, just a list of issues with the application. 2. Condition Suggestion: list of conditions Councils would like to see added to the consent when it gets processed.

Options for customers who enquiry about the application:

* Go to the applicant themselves- 

* If they don't like how they have been ruled out of the process, they can go to their local MP and discuss how the legislation has been set up.

* Fast Track Website by EPA: Fast-track