Landowner approval is required when certain activities or works are proposed within a Council managed park.
This may include (but not limited to):
- Installing new connections to infrastructure through a reserve that serves private property.
- Accessing private property for construction/maintenance from a reserve.
- Earthworks within a reserve.
- Locating a stormwater or wastewater infrastructure within a reserve to serve private property.
- Using a reserve as a temporary construction laydown area.
- Creating easements or other legal permissions.
Utilising Council-owned or managed land for private benefit is usually seen as a last resort, and all applicants will be asked to consider alternatives prior to turning to Council parks and reserves.
Fees
Below are the fees that you will be charged for when applying for landowner approval:
- Application fee plus an hourly rate for any time spent over 2.5 hours.
- Compensation for easement (if required).
- Disbursements, including but not limited to valuation, legal fees and engagement with iwi and hapu.
View the full fees and charges
Applying for landowner approval
Here’s what happens when you apply:
- Submit your application – Complete and send us the landowner approval application form.
- We review your application – Our consents planner checks the details and may ask for more information.
- We make a decision – We decide whether to approve or decline your application.
- Check the asset type – If the asset is to be owned by Council, no easement is needed. If it’s private, an easement is usually required.
Landowner Approval Application Form (49.6kb pdf)
Please note: Due to a high demand, landowner approval may take longer than 20 working days to process.
Easements
Sometimes, when we approve work on Council land, we also need to register an easement. An easement gives a neighbouring property the legal right to use a part of Council land for a pipe or accessway, for example.
Because an easement places a legal burden on Council land, we charge fair compensation. A registered valuer usually calculates this. Applicants also pay for staff time, legal work, survey and valuation fees, and any other costs like public consultation or engagement with mana whenua, if required.
If an easement is needed
If your project needs an easement, here’s what to expect:
- We confirm and outline costs – We’ll give you an indicative breakdown of costs, including valuation, survey, staff time, consultation, legal fees, LINZ fees, compensation, and other disbursements.
- Engage with mana whenua – We work with iwi and hapū as part of the process if required.
- Complete valuation – A registered valuer determines fair compensation.
- Agreement prepared – We arrange for an Agreement to Grant Easement to be prepared. Any landowner approval will depend on registering the easement on terms acceptable to Council.
- Pay compensation and costs – You pay the agreed amount.
- Carry out site works – Work on site can begin.
- Provide as-built plans – Submit as-built drawings once work is complete.
- Complete survey and approval – A surveyor prepares the survey plan showing the easement area. The plan will need to be approved by Council and also by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ).
- Register the easement – The easement is registered with LINZ on the property titles for both Council and the landowner.
If you have any questions or require assistance, please contact admin.spacesandplaces@tauranga.govt.nz.