Hawke’s Bay Regional Council Policy and Regulation Group manager Katrina Brunton says is encouraging landowners to prioritise their applications.
“We understand that compliance with the regional rules isn’t top-of-mind for farmers who are juggling many things on the farm, yet now is the time to get this sorted,” Brunton said.
“We also want to emphasise that those who submitted a pre-application during lockdown still need to submit a full application. The pre-application was only a placeholder.”
She says the council is there to help landowners meet their obligations and its team is available to answer any questions they may have.
“While enforcement action is always a last resort, it is our job to ensure everyone complies with these regulations,” she said.
“This means that if any landowner fails to meet the deadlines without good reason, we will take enforcement action, which could result in a fine or prosecution.”
Further information, including procedural guidelines, guidance for low intensity properties and FAQs about the consenting process can be found on the council’s website – search #tukituki.
