Resource consent expectations 'unrealistic'

Local councils are insisting it is unrealistic to process large resource consent applications in a set time.

Under the Government's plan, councils must provide a discount of 25 per cent for a consent one week late, with an additional five per cent per week up to a maximum of 80 per cent.

Local Government New Zealand spokesman Stephen Cairns says the plan is a good incentive for minor consents but he says there is no way councils can meet statutory timelines for large applications and nor should they have to. He says time limits would stop positive aspects of the process, such as consultation, mediation and pre-hearings.

Mr Cairns says it is not fair that councils will be assumed to be at fault in those cases, when they are actually acting professionally.

Environment Minister Nick Smith says last year's report on resource consent processing identified that 31 per cent of resource consents were processed late and another 28 per cent involved an extension of time.

"The report also identified that this problem had got progressively worse over the last decade.

"This new policy of a financial penalty on councils for late consent processing is designed to reverse this trend and get councils focused on providing a timely service."

- NEWSTALK ZB