Earthworks

If you are planning to do some earthworks, there are specific District Plan rules that relate to earthworks in both rural and residential areas.

Rural Areas

The district's landscape is something held very dear to residents of Central Otago. Through the District Plan landscapes are balanced against the acknowledgment that these are also working rural environments. Some form of earthworks is often a necessary part of rural life.

The District Plan identifies the maximum volume and area that you can disturb before a resource consent is required. This will vary depending on the location of the site. There are also rules regarding the creation of tracks, particularly around the extent of cut and fill that's involved.

For more detail about the rules in a Rural Resource Area go to Section 4 of the District Plan. We also encourage you to book a duty planner information meeting (link at bottom of page) to discuss your proposal early on in the process. We're happy to go through your plans with you and assist you in determining if any consent is required.

If you need to apply for resource consent, then you need to provide the following:

• A site plan that clearly shows the area where earthworks will occur.
• An indication of the volume of material involved.
• A description of what you are planning to do, including the reasons why you are doing it;
• If you are located near a lake or stream that may be affected, think about how you will manage avoiding any impact on the water body or its margins.
• If there are any issues with land stability and how that is going to be addressed.
• A restoration or rehabilitation plan.
• You may need written approval from neighbours or other parties (Council staff will advise you if this is required).

As part of your resource consent application, you'll need to complete an Assessment of Environmental Effects (AEE) and include a Record of Title. For further information on what to include in your AEE contact planning staff.

Please be aware that there may be other requirements you will need to consider for extractive activities like mining of gold or gravel under the Crown Minerals Act (i.e. a Mining Permit).

Residential Areas

The Residential Area is made up three zones: Low-Density Residential, Medium-Density Residential and Large-Lot Residential zones. The rules related to earthworks are the same across these three zones:

• Earthworks that are more than a metre deep and within two metres of any boundary will need resource consent.
• The maximum volume of land excavated within any site in any 12-month period shall not exceed 200m3. To exceed this quantity, a resource consent is required.

For more detail about the rules in a Residential Resource Area go to Section 7 of the District Plan. We also encourage you to book a duty planner information meeting (link at bottom of page) to discuss your proposal early on in the process. We're happy to go through your plans with you and assist you in determining if any consent is required.

If you need to apply for resource consent, then you will need to provide the following:

• You will need to consider the stability of the works (this will likely require the services of an engineer).
• If there is any stabilisation work proposed (i.e. retaining structure) you will need to provide an engineered design of the work.
• What the effect may be on neighbours and the surrounding area. You may need to get written approval from your neighbours or other parties.

As part of your resource consent application, you'll need to complete an AEE and include a Record of Title.