Planning Overview & Contacts

District Planning Information

In this section

The Planning Unit can provide advice on working within New Zealand's resource management legislation. The Resource Management Act (1991) requires local authorities to ensure that effects on the environment are managed sustainably. If your project could impact on the environment, or could affect other people, you may require resource consent. The Timaru District Council's Planning Unit can help you with a range of planning needs and requirements including:

  • Advice on how the District Plan and RMA affect your project;
  • Application advice and processing of Resource Consent Applications, Notice of Requirements, Outline Plans, Existing Use Right Certificates, Certificates of Compliance and private plan change requests;
  • Monitoring of Resource Consent Applications and compliance with the District Plan.
  • Information about the District Plan review and plan changes.

If you think you require resource consent but need more information, please contact our Customer Services Officer. Alternatively, you can book a meeting with a member of the Planning Unit. They can look over your proposal and point out some of the things you will need to consider while you prepare your application.

When you are ready to lodge your resource consent application it is recommended that you check with the Customer Services Officer or a member of the Planning Unit that you have given us all the information required to process your application. This will help make the resource consent process quicker for you.

The Planning Unit is also involved in the:

  • Allocation and maintenance of rural and urban numbering;
  • The processing of Land Information Memorandums, Project Information Memorandums, Building Consents, Liquor Licensing and Service Applications

Key Contacts

General Enquiry/First Point Contact

Customer Services Officer - Planning

Please contact the Customer Services Officer - Planning in the first instance for all general planning-related enquiries. The Duty Planner can be contacted by phone and email Monday to Friday 9am - 3.30pm, but for face to face customer service, it is only available Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Timaru District Council, 2 King George Place, Timaru and can provide a range of useful information and advice regarding all planning related matters.

District Plan Review

District Plan Review Team

Please contact the District Plan Review team for any enquires on the District Plan Review, the Proposed District Plan, or the associated Hearings.

District Planning Manager

Hamish Barrell - District Planning Manager

Hamish is the manager of the Planning Unit and oversees all resource management monitoring, enforcement, consents and policy functions of the unit.

Resource Consents

Alex Wakefield - Resource Consent Team Leader

Alex can provide detailed pre-planning advice on your resource consent application. If you wish to make an appointment to meet with Nathan, please contact him to organise a suitable time.

Last updated: 29 Feb 2024