Resource Consents update – 19 October 2020

Just quickly: Independent Hearings Panel web address update

The address for the Independent hearings Panel website is now http://chchplan.ihp.govt.nz  

Please note that while this address may look familiar, the ‘www’ is now missing. This change means that any links to documents you may have used in the past will need to be corrected, and this can be done simply by deleting ‘www’ from every instance where you've used the address.

Road nameplates

Recently, we've implemented a new process for approving road nameplates at the s224(c) stage on existing consents, and a revised condition detailing these requirements will be on all new consents from now on.

This process involves obtaining approval for the location of the road nameplates from the Council’s Subdivision Engineer prior to installation, and the consent holder ordering the road nameplates directly from the manufacturer, rather than through the Council. Unless the road already has an existing name, the Council can't approve road nameplate locations until the road name has been approved by the relevant community board.

The location of the nameplates can be submitted in a plan that identifies the road’s landscaping and the location of street lighting.

The nameplates will be designed and installed in accordance with the Infrastructure Design Standards and Construction Standard Specifications, with photographic evidence of the installed road nameplates to be provided as part of s224(c) certification.

Road naming

We now have a dedicated web page for road and right of way naming. This provides a link to the request form, road naming policy, and further information about the process, including a link to Land Information New Zealand’s (LINZ) information on addressing standards and guidelines.

LINZ has recently released new guidelines for addressing in-fill developments. This gives the Council guidance on allocating addresses and reduces the number of occasions that a right of way will require naming. 

LINZ also has guidelines for addressing retirement and lifestyle villages. This means that any private roads or private ways within retirement and lifestyle villages will need naming. Land use consents that this will apply to will have an advice note included to explain the need for road names and addressing. Any road names will need to be approved through the usual process with the community board. Once road names are finalised, street addresses can be created. Having individual addresses for each unit will allow emergency services, delivery agents and contractors to find homes easily.

We're developing a new road naming policy. This policy aims to enable the use of more te reo Māori and provide more clarity around the assessment of proposed road names and naming requirements.

Ensuring a quality application will provide a faster, more streamlined process. A good application will include detailed reasoning for road names with names that are relevant for the area and of interest to the community.

Useful sources of road names could involve local historical societies, mana whenua representatives, community groups, sports clubs, etc. or Christchurch City Libraries.

Street numbering

The Council manages and updates street numbering. As a local authority, we're obliged to follow the National addressing standards set out by the Surveyor General at LINZ and under Section 319B of the Local Government Act 1974. 

A standard numbering system means easier identification and location of properties for visitors, quicker and improved response in emergency situations and efficient delivery of goods and services to properties.

Property addresses should be sequential and unique. When entering from the adjoining road, odd numbers are on the left-hand side of the road and even numbers on the right. Numerical preferences are not taken into consideration when allocating numbers, and all numbers can potentially be issued (e.g. 4 and 13 will be allocated).

A suburb is a reference to a general area of a city. The name of the suburb is usually derived from the name of a nearby school, post office or subdivision and is often used by businesses to divide the city into administrative areas. Suburb boundaries are arbitrary, and the Council doesn't keep records for suburbs because there are no legal boundaries. Postcodes replaced suburbs as required information for postal delivery in 1981.

Online street numbering form

The Council recently introduced an online street numbering form. This is to be used when applying for:

• a new address
• an additional address
• updating a street address

Turnaround time is 3–5 working days and we encourage you to submit this form as early as possible in the consent process to help avoid any delays.

This form can be completed for most street address queries. Once completed, it's submitted to our team at streetnumbering@ccc.govt.nz

Document stamp for street addressing

We have an agreement with Enable and Orion that they won't process any new connections without a stamp-approved plan from the Council. An example is added below:

We're now communicating this to internal and external customers. If a proposed street numbering plan is available, it will be included with the subdivision decision email.

For more information, please email dutyplanner@ccc.govt.nz or call 941 8999.