These guidelines are to assist applicants for relevant consents for dams, for water storage for irrigation or stock drinking water. The Building Act 2004 (the Act) introduced changes that affect the construction and ongoing monitoring of dams. The intent of the Act is to encourage better practice in building design, construction, and regulatory building control.
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Resource consents are often required for dams. This is because dams involve the taking, using, damming and diverting of water, and controlling the quantity, level and flow of water. The works associated with the construction of a dam can also trigger the requirement for a resource consent.
The Regional Resource Management Plan Chapter 6 - Regional Rules, Number 6.8.3 - Erection & Placement of Dams & Other Barrier Structures, & Damming of Water, Rule 67, Page 179.
Resource consent application forms are on this website.
A building consent is required for all structures that meet the definition of a large dam, as well as those structures that form part of the large dam structure itself – such as appurtenant structures (structures that are integral to the proper functioning of the dam). A large dam means a dam that retains three or more metres depth, and hold 20,000 or more cubic metres volume, of water or other fluid.
The construction of any dam that is not a large dam is exempt building work and does not require a building consent. Nevertheless the Act requires all building work on dams to comply with the Building Code.
Building consents for dam construction in Hawke’s Bay region are processed by Environment Waikato. To prevent duplication of services and to provide greater efficiencies, a transfer agreement has been reached between Environment Waikato (Waikato Regional Council) and most North Island regional councils, including Hawke's Bay Regional Council.
For building consent application forms from EW and a useful “Dam Builders” information pack go to the Environment Waikato Website.