Auckland Council adjusts building and resource consent services at alert level 3: how do they differ from level 4?

On 19 August, the New Zealand Chinese Building Industry Association (NZCBIA) reported on Auckland Council's adjustments to building consent, resource consent and engineering regulatory services at alert level 4. Following Auckland's recent move to alert level 3, Auckland Council has published a new notice on its official website outlining changes to applications and inspections for building consents, resource consents, engineering regulation and other council services at alert level 3.

The New Zealand Chinese Building Industry Association (NZCBIA) urges all Chinese building industry colleagues to strictly follow the government's pandemic control regulations when reopening construction sites at alert level 3(For details of the regulations and guidance on building inspections, see YIJU's report of 20 September)。https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/IGd6K4l8bSnri-cfhQhJVQ

Building consents

Ian McCormick, Auckland Council's General Manager Building Consents, said customer service centres would remain closed at alert level 3, while staff would continue working remotely to provide the following services:

Lodging building consent applications

Code compliance certificate (CCC) applications

Other applications

Building inspection protocols (BIP)

Online services remain available. Building consent and code compliance certificate applications and approvals will be handled electronically rather than on paper. Paper applications submitted before lockdown will be digitised and will only be processed when the alert level falls to two or below. In other words, anyone seeking a faster turnaround is encouraged to resubmit their application through the council website. Similarly, all building warrant of fitness (WOF) applications will be accepted and processed electronically. Pre-application meetings and free advisory meetings can only take place by telephone or online.

Vehicle crossing applications will also be processed electronically and can be emailed to vehiclecrossings@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
Producer statement registrations and renewals will be processed digitally and can be emailed to producerstatement@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
IQP applications will be processed electronically and can be emailed to iqpr@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
BWOF applications will be processed electronically and can be emailed to regsupportbwof@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
Lodge building consent and code compliance certificate applications online: https://onlineservices.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/councilonline/splashPage?consentType=BUILDING&productType=BC_COMBINED#
As the pandemic situation changes, Auckland Council will adjust its policies in line with government directions. For further details on building consents, visit https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/building-and-consents/building-consents/Pages/default.aspx

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Resource consents

Like the building consents department, General Manager Resource Consents Ian Smallburn confirmed that his staff would continue working remotely and that online services would remain available. Services include:

Lodging resource consent applications

Online meetings with customers

Only online resource consent applications are currently being accepted and processed; paper applications are not accepted. In certain circumstances where strict COVID-19 health and safety protocols are in place, on-site inspections may be carried out at the council's discretion. Pre-application and customer meetings can take place by video call or telephone. General resource consent enquiries can be directed to the area planning helpdesk.

Lodge resource consent applications online: https://onlineservices.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/councilonline/splashPage?consentType=RESOURCE&productType=RESOURCE_CONSENT#
As the pandemic situation changes, Auckland Council will adjust its policies in line with government directions. For further details on resource consents, visit https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/building-and-consents/resource-consents/Pages/default.aspx

Engineering regulatory services

Similarly, Daniel Sansbury, General Manager Engineering Regulatory Services, confirmed that his staff would continue working remotely and that online services would remain available. Services include:

Lodging applications

Technical coordination

Other applications

Only electronic applications submitted online are being accepted and processed, including the acceptance and approval of engineering plans. Engineering input into resource consent applications and assessments of engineering plan approval applications continue, including coordinating advice from Auckland Transport, Watercare, Healthy Waters, Parks, Community Facilities and all other technical contributors. Pre-application meetings take place by telephone or online, for example through Skype or MS Teams.

Lodge applications online: https://onlineservices.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/councilonline/splashPage?consentType=RESOURCE&productType=RESOURCE_CONSENT_ENGG_APPROVAL#
For further details on engineering regulation, visit https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/building-and-consents/engineering-approvals/Pages/default.aspx

As the pandemic develops, YIJU New Zealand will continue monitoring adjustments and changes to council rules for building-related services. We hope everyone will support one another and work together to overcome the challenges of the pandemic. For a full list of council services at alert level three, visit https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/Pages/covid-19.aspx. For more information about COVID-19, visit the relevant New Zealand Government website at https://covid19.govt.nz/.