If you are constructing a new dam then you may need a resource consent under our Regional Plan for the damming of the water.
This is because the damming of water is not limited to water in rivers or catchment runoff and also includes the damming of water in reservoirs.
Under the operative Regional Plan: Water for Otago where the permitted activity rules cannot be met for this activity, a water permit is required for this damming.
If you do not meet the permitted criteria in Rule 12.3.2.1 (shown below) the damming of water is therefore a discretionary activity under Rule 12.3.2.1 and you will need RMA consent. You can use Form 2 to apply for this consent. You must also fill in Form 1. We are happy to help with pre-application advice and encourage you to contact us.
June 2024
PDF | 246 KB
Form 1: Application for resource consent must be completed for most consent applications made to us (you can use this PDF version of the Word version). If multiple consents are required for an activity, Form 1 only needs be completed once. You do not need to fill in Form 1 if you are applying for an intensive winter grazing consent.
December 2021
PDF | 799 KB
Use this form for activities that seek to impound water behind a structure within a watercourse.
12.3.2 Permitted activities: No resource consent required 12.3.2.1
Unless prohibited by Rules 12.3.1.1 to 12.3.1.4, the damming or diversion of water is a permitted activity, providing:
- The size of the catchment upstream of the dam, weir or diversion is no more than 50 hectares in area; and
- In the case of damming, the water immediately upstream of the dam is no more than 3 metres deep, and the volume of water stored by the dam is no more than 20,000 cubic metres; and
- In the case of diversion, the water is conveyed from one part of any lake or river, or its tributary, to another part of the same lake, river or tributary; and
- No lawful take of water is adversely affected as a result of the damming or diversion; and
- Any damming or diversion within a Regionally Significant Wetland was lawfully established prior to 2 July 2011; and
- There is no change to the water level range or hydrological function of any Regionally Significant Wetland; and
- There is no damage to fauna, or New Zealand native flora, in or on any Regionally Significant Wetland; and
- The damming or diversion does not cause flooding of any other person’s property, erosion, land instability, sedimentation or property damage; and
- The damming or diversion is not within the Waitaki catchment.
February 2024
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Use this form to schedule a pre-application meeting with our consents team. A pre-application meeting can help make applying for a consent smoother, more efficient, and reduce costs.
June 2021
PDF | 180 KB
A landowner proposing to build a dam or carry out work to an existing one must first determine whether it is a ‘large dam’. These are defined in the Building Act 2004 as having:
- a height of 4m or more; and
- a volume of 20,000m³ or more of water
The landowner must then make a building consent application to Environmental Canterbury for all structures that meet this definition. This includes flood control dams, significantly modified natural features and canals, as well as structures that form part of large dams, such as appurtenant structures.
Environmental Canterbury has a dedicated building consent webpage that provides all relevant resources.
While Building Consents and Certificates of Compliance (CCC) are to be received by Environment Canterbury, the Otago Regional Council must receive Certificates of Acceptance (COA) for the Otago Region. These will be processed or the co-ordination of the processing managed by the Otago Regional Council. You will be made aware of who is processing your COA once it has been received.
For building work in Otago, we ask that you obtain a Project Information Memorandum (PIM). For building work in Southland or the West Coast you obtain it from the regional council in these areas. You can also obtain a PIM from the relevant district or city council.
The regional and district council PIMs contain information held by the two councils which may be relevant to your proposed building work, such as natural hazards. You can apply for the two PIMs at any time – you don't have to wait until you apply for a building consent.
While there is no legal requirement for you to obtain a PIM, it is recommended you obtain the two PIMs first, review information provided, and consider this information when designing your dam. The PIMs may contain important information, therefore we consider them to be essential. Applications for building consents will be put on hold until ORC receives the two PIMs.
To apply for a Project Information Memorandum (PIM) for building work in Otago, complete the below application form and send it to us.
Form F2 Application Form Dam Construction BCA_PIM v1.4 December 2015 form
Our staff will initially check your application has the necessary information for processing. If the application is not complete, it will be returned to you. Once the application has all the necessary information we will compile your PIM within 2 working days.
You will be charged a fee for processing your application.
Contacts for other councils providing a PIM
Environment Southland
Ph 03 211 5115
service@es.govt.nz
Gore District Council
Ph 03 209 0330
info@goredc.govt.nz
West Coast Regional Council
Ph 0508 800 118
info@wcrc.govt.nz
Southland District Council
Ph 0800 732 732
emailsdc@southlanddc.govt.nz
Central Otago District Council
Ph 03 440 0056
info@codc.govt.nz
Invercargill City Council
Ph 03 211 1777
service@icc.govt.nz
Queenstown Lakes District Council
Ph 03 441 0499
service@qldc.govt.nz
Buller District Council
Ph 0800 807 239
info@bdc.govt.nz
Waitaki District Council
Ph 03 433 0300
service@waitaki.govt.co.nz
Grey District Council
Ph 03 769 8603
info@greydc.govt.nz
Clutha District Council
Ph 0800 801 350
Web: www.cluthadc.govt.nz
Westland District Council
Ph 03 756 9010
council@westlanddc.govt.nz
Dunedin City Council
Ph 03 477 4000
dcc@dcc.govt.nz
The Otago Regional Council is required under the Building Act to maintain a register of dams in Otago. The register enables us to contact dam owners if we need to discuss the regulations for managing dam safety. There is no charge for the dam registration service.
If you own a dam in Otago you should check with us as to whether your dam should be on our register. Phone 03 474-0827 or freephone 0800 474-082 or email consent.enquiries@orc.govt.nz
If you own a dam in Southland or the West Coast, you should check with Environment Southland or the West Coast Regional Council as to whether your dam is on their respective registers.
For building work in Otago, we ask that you obtain a Project Information Memorandum (PIM). For building work in Southland or the West Coast you obtain it from the regional council in these areas. You can also obtain a PIM from the relevant district or city council.
The regional and district council PIMs contain information held by the two councils which may be relevant to your proposed building work, such as natural hazards. You can apply for the two PIMs at any time – you don't have to wait until you apply for a building consent.
While there is no legal requirement for you to obtain a PIM, it is recommended you obtain the two PIMs first, review information provided, and consider this information when designing your dam. The PIMs may contain important information, therefore we consider them to be essential. Applications for building consents will be put on hold until ORC receives the two PIMs.
To apply for a Project Information Memorandum (PIM) for building work in Otago, complete the application form and send it to us.
Our staff will initially check your application has the necessary information for processing. If the application is not complete, it will be returned to you. Once the application has all the necessary information, we will compile your PIM within 2 working days.
You will be charged a fee for processing your application.
Want to know more?
For more information phone our customer services staff on freephone 0800 474 082 or email consent.enquiries@orc.govt.nz.
Find out more information on dams and the Building Act from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment website.
NZSOLD is a technical group of Engineering New Zealand. This site has information on dam safety and construction, including the proceedings of conferences at which papers on dam safety and background to the Building Act dam safety legislation have been presented. Find out more information on the NZ Society on Large Dams.
Find out historic information on some Otago dams from the Heritage New Zealand.
Certain types of applications must be sent to Fire Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) for their review (Section 46 of the Act). The BCA will receive a memo from FENZ (Section 47) and will take this into consideration in any application process. Find out more information at https://fireandemergency.nz/contact-us/
June 2024
PDF | 246 KB
Form 1: Application for resource consent must be completed for most consent applications made to us (you can use this PDF version of the Word version). If multiple consents are required for an activity, Form 1 only needs be completed once. You do not need to fill in Form 1 if you are applying for an intensive winter grazing consent.
December 2021
PDF | 799 KB
Use this form for activities that seek to impound water behind a structure within a watercourse.
PDF | 145 KB
SECTION 33 OR SECTION 45, BUILDING ACT 2004
August 2020
PDF | 839 KB
Regional Plan: Water for Otago
June 2021
PDF | 180 KB
March 2022
PDF | 327 KB
Guidance when determining the level of detail required to be lodged with applications for off-line and instream damming and diversions. (Damming matrix table)
November 2022
PDF | 309 KB
The document relates to the following activities where a 6-year or less consent duration is sought: Retakes of water from water races and off-line reservoirs/dams; Off-line (out of stream) damming; Diversion of water in a river to facilitate a water take .
Dangerous dams
Otago Regional Council policy on dangerous dams. Submissions on the dangerous dams policy review closed on 15 December 2023.
Dam Safety Regulations
New dam safety regulations came into effect May 2024. The ORC compliance team is here to help dam owners meet these regulations.
