Bay of Plenty Regional Council is running drop-in information sessions across the region to provide face-to-face advice about resource consents.

The council's resource consents manager, Helen Creagh, wants to ensure the right advice is easily available.

'We understand the resource consent application process can require a bit of thought, so we would like to help make the process as straightforward as possible.”

The regional council is aiming to help people who are unsure about the resource consent process and would like an opportunity to speak with someone.

'Often questions are easily answered, especially when you can speak to people one-on-one about their situation,” says Helen.

Resource consents help to ensure natural resources are allocated and used in an efficient and sustainable way.

People must gain resource consents from the regional council for a range of activities related to water use, earthworks and discharge to air, land or water.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council is responsible for issuing resource consents, and monitoring consent holders to ensure they are complying with their consent conditions.

Helen says her team is fully capable of helping people with resource consent queries.

'We have an enthusiastic, knowledgeable team who work across the region on resource consents.

'We want to spend more time helping people understand and work through the resource consent process to get it right.”

Bay of Plenty Regional Council has released a revised set of resource consent application forms which are available at all information sessions.

People can also download resource consent forms online as well as read more information on the resource consent process at www.boprc.govt.nz

'The more understanding people have about resource consents, the better our resources are managed and we are closer to achieving our ultimate goal of protecting our environment for future generations.”

Information Session Timetable