Planning (consenting) considerations are integral components for many NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) projects.
To meet statutory requirements related to design, construction, operation and maintenance activities, NZTA may be required to gain various authorisations from those with regulatory responsibilities for the natural and built environments, culture and heritage and the conservation estate. These may include:
- Resource consents
- Designations (via notice of requirements), Outline Plan of Works or Outline Plan waivers
- Department of Conservation (DOC) concessions
- Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga (HNZPT) authorities
- Wildlife permits.
Consent compliance management platform
- NZTA uses CS-VUE, an online compliance management platform to track and monitor our environmental statutory requirements. This is a workflow-based tool that enables conditions to be effectively managed in a scheduled way.
- It is expected that any consents or other statutory approvals and associated conditions logged in CS-VUE are appropriately managed, whether this be a contractor or Contract Manager, everyone has a responsibility to ensure the obligations of our approvals are being met.
- NZTA aims for excellence in compliance and we trust those we work with to achieve the same.
- More information on CS-VUE
Delegations for consenting work
If you are preparing consent applications or statutory approvals on behalf of NZTA, it is important you understand who can sign applications, approve draft conditions, or make other key decisions. Delegations relating to statutory planning activities sit with the NZTA Environmental Planning team.
How the Environmental Planning team can help
The Environmental Planning team can provide specialist advice on statutory applications, pathways and processes, from project development through to the maintenance and operational phases of a project. This can help ensure that:
- Planning input is received early enough in the project to avoid project delays due to consenting issues.
- Project consenting strategies align with wider NZTA objectives and standards and adequately address project risks, and are commensurate to the scale of the project or activity.
- All relevant environmental requirements are identified and met.
- Consenting costs are reasonable and consents are gained in a timely manner.
- Consent conditions are reviewed prior to grant of the consent, and compliance requirements are reasonable and achievable.
- Contractors understand and take responsibility for consent compliance.
- Fit for purpose consenting documentation is prepared and appropriately recorded within the NZTA consent management system.
For further information contact the Environmental Planning team at environmentalplanning@nzta.govt.nz
Templates for NZTA designation and consenting documents
NZTA has templates for various designation and consenting documents. This includes templates for:
- Notice of requirement (new designations or alterations)
- Extension of designation lapse period
- Removal of designation
- Outline plan of work
- Resource consent application
- Assessment of Effects on the Environment
- Project consenting strategy.
The templates can be requested from the Environmental Planning team at EnvironmentalPlanning@nzta.govt.nz
