Building Consents update – March 2021

 New inspection will help keep waterways clean

Erosion and sediment discharge from building sites can adversely affect waterways so control measures need to be in place before any excavations or site clearance begins.

A condition of our  stormwater network discharge consent from Environment Canterbury requires us to have a sediment discharge management plan. This plan requires the inspection of erosion and sediment control measures on high-risk building sites before any excavations or site clearance begins.

High-risk sites are those that will have:

• disturbed area greater than 1,000 m2; or
• disturbed area greater than 500 m2 and the proximity to a waterway is less than 20 m; or
• disturbed area greater than 500 m2 and the slope is greater than 5 degrees.

We currently inspect all erosion and sediment control measures at the foundation or slab inspection.

For high-risk sites, from 6 April 2021 we will include a new building inspection type - Erosion and Sediment Control inspection - on the estimate of construction inspections attached to the building consent. This will require a building inspection once measures are in place and before any excavations or site clearance begins.

Consultants' records to be available onsite for inspector review

An inspection means the taking of all reasonable steps to ensure that building work is being carried out in accordance with a building consent.

A building consent may be issued requiring third-party consultants such as a structural engineer to undertake construction monitoring or a surveyor to confirm the building’s location to ensure that building work is being carried out in accordance with a building consent. These consultants’ records need to be available onsite for the inspector to review as part of their decision whether to pass the inspection and allow building work to proceed.

Where required, the following records need to be available onsite:

Foundation or Slab - The building location certificate (or building setout certificate), where a surveyor is required to confirm boundary setbacks or finished floor levels. The site inspection records, where a structural or geotechnical engineer is required to undertake construction monitoring of foundation elements or ground conditions.

Pre-Roof - The building location certificate, where a surveyor is required to confirm the building location relative to recession planes.

Pre-Line - The site inspection records, where a structural engineer is required to undertake construction monitoring of structural elements

Final – The construction review statements (PS4) and the associated site inspection records from all consultants required to undertake construction monitoring.

Cheque payments coming to an end

From 30 April 2021, we will no longer accept cheques as a payment option, following their phasing out by three major New Zealand banks this year.

You can still pay a number of ways: direct debit, internet banking, automatic payment, credit card or in person at any Council service centre. See our Newsline story or call 941 8999 or 0800 800 169 for more information.

Have your say on key projects

We’re asking for feedback on some significant work, including our Long Term Plan, draft Climate Change Strategy and draft Development Contributions Policy.

Our Long Term Plan is our plan for what we’ll spend over the next 10 years and how we’ll fund it. It signals how much rates will need to rise to pay for everything.

You can find out more about what we’re proposing at ccc.govt.nz/longtermplan

Climate change strategy

We need to prepare for the opportunities and challenges of climate change.

We need to reduce our emissions by making changes to the way we travel, the waste we create and the energy we use. We also need to consider the impact our changing climate might have on where and how we live.

Find out more and have your say on our draft Ōtautahi Christchurch Climate Change Strategy until 25 April 2021 by visiting ccc.govt.nz/haveyoursay

Development contributions

Development contributions of cash, or sometimes land, help fund the facilities and infrastructure that the Council provides to cater for growth. 

Our draft Development Contributions Policy sets out how much and in what circumstances people will have to pay.

Submissions can be made until Sunday 18 April.

You can read more on Newsline or view the policy, consultation document and make a submission at ccc.govt.nz/haveyoursay

Get in touch

For more information on Building Consents, head to our website or email DutyBCO@ccc.govt.nz or call 941 8999.