Be clear about the purpose of resource consent, compliance, and complaint monitoring and reporting. For instance, it could be to:
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check that consent holders are meeting the conditions of consent (administrative/process monitoring)
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check on predicted environmental, economic, social or cultural effects of consented activities, including links to results expected in policy statements and plans (environmental performance/outcomes monitoring)
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provide information for state of the environment monitoring and reporting
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assist a council in assessing the effectiveness of policy and plan provisions
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assist a council in meeting their public reporting requirements in-line with ss35 and 35A of the Act (and which can be information required to be provided to the Minister for the Environment)
A combination of all these purposes is the most desirable approach in a monitoring strategy.
Monitoring of resource consents involves checking compliance with consent decisions; the effectiveness of consent conditions; and monitoring the impact of activities on the environment. Complaints can also provide useful information on compliance or areas where policies and plans are not meeting the desired and anticipated environmental outcomes. For example, complaints about activities that are identified as permitted.
