When specific individuals or groups are directly affected by this proposal. Only these people can submit to the application.

Council can only publicly notify a resource consent application if one or more legal criteria under the Resource Management Act (RMA) are met. Generally, public notification is required if:

• The adverse effects on the environment are assessed as "more than minor"; or
• There are “special circumstances” that warrant public notification.

This means the proposed activity would have significant effects on the environment beyond what is usually acceptable.

For this application, technical assessments by Council officers found that the effects are no more than minor, so the threshold for public notification is not met.

"Special circumstances" is a high legal bar. Courts have said it must be something truly unusual or outside what is normally expected under planning rules. Examples include unique environmental features or exceptional impacts.

No. The law is clear that:

• Public interest alone is not sufficient,
• Community opposition is not sufficient, and
• Media attention or political sensitivity is not sufficient.

Council is required to follow statutory criteria, including technical assessments and planning rules, to ensure fair and lawful outcomes for everyone involved.

These processes are set by the RMA and interpreted by the Courts to ensure consistency and transparency.