Consent Applications

IWS has extensive working knowledge of:

• ‘Land and water’ consents such as the Industrial or Trade Activity Consents in Auckland.
• Stormwater Diversion and Discharge Consents.
• A combination of both.

The objectives of these consents are to ensure a company manages the full range of environmental issues around its site(s) and for the Council to approve how a site will protect the land and water environment in the long-term. This includes:

• Pollution source control – both structural and procedural.
• Understanding and mapping the drainage networks.
• Handling and storage of chemicals, oil, fuel and other Environmentally Hazardous Substances.
• Stormwater treatment design (and installation).
• Environmental Management Plans and Spill Response Plans.
• Stormwater management plans.
• Ongoing stormwater monitoring and reporting.
• Staff environmental awareness training.

Trade Waste Discharge Consents, Agreements and Management Plans

Most connections from an industrial or commercial property to the Council sewerage network require a trade waste discharge agreement or consent from the local Council or 'wastewater authority' (such as Watercare in Auckland).

IWS Group can assist with the following:

• Trade waste agreement applications and technical information, as well as liaising with the relevant authority.
• Identification of potential risks associated with trade waste or wastewater from your site.
• Planning and design of a treatment system solution, if required.
• Recognising where stormwater diversion or detention systems may be required to better manage trade waste or wastewater and providing solutions for this.
• Monitoring of trade waste or wastewater quality to meet the conditions of your agreement with the relevant authority.
• More information from Watercare can be found here.

Environmental Audits and Annual Reporting

IWS undertakes land and water pollution prevention audits, often as part of the process in obtaining consents or developing an Environmental Management Plan, or to meet Annual Compliance conditions of an ITA Consent. These audits are aimed at identifying actual and potential pollution risks on your site. Following the audit, we propose solutions to direct the improvements required to manage these risks to the environment.

We also prepare independent Annual Environmental Reports for submission to Council (following Client approval).

These reports include:

• A summary of the key findings of an Annual Environmental Audit.
• A review of the environmental management records and maintenance records to determine the effectiveness of the Environmental Management Plan in practice over the preceding 12 months.
• A summary and analysis of stormwater monitoring results over the previous 12 months including observations connecting back to the site audit findings where evident.
• An update of changes required to the Environmental Management Plan moving forward as part of the continuous improvement process.

Environmental Management Plans

An Environmental Management Plan (EMP) should clearly and concisely outline the site’s operations and the management of contaminants of concern from industrial activities. It is an essential tool to manage environmental risk, ensuring the procedures for mitigating, monitoring and managing environmental impacts are addressed. This will, in turn, ensure compliance with regulations and minimise harm to the land and water receiving environment on an ongoing basis. An EMP requires regular review and updating – it is a working document that should be in use by all staff at management and operational levels.

Important aspects of the EMP include:

• Defined roles and responsibilities.
• As-Built Site Drainage and stormwater treatment system plans.
• Spill Response Plans.
• Operational and management level checklists and Standard Operating Procedures.
• Operation and Maintenance Plan for stormwater collection and treatment systems.
• Stormwater Monitoring Programme.