Further Information

   92. Further information may be required---(1) A consent authority may,
 at any reasonable time before the hearing of an application, by written
 notice to an applicant for a resource consent, require the applicant to
 provide further information relating to the application.

   (2) Where the consent authority is of the opinion that any significant
 adverse effect on the environment may result from an activity to which
 an application for a resource consent relates, the consent authority
 may---
   (a) Require an explanation of---
           (i) Any possible alternative locations or methods for
         undertaking the activity and the applicant's reasons for making
         the proposed choice; and
           (ii) The consultation undertaken by the applicant; and
   (b) Where the application is for a discharge permit or a coastal
         permit to do something that would otherwise contravene section
         15 (relating to discharge of contaminants), require an
         explanation of---
           (i) The nature of the discharge and the sensitivity of the
         proposed receiving environment to adverse effects, and the
         applicant's reasons for making the proposed choice; and
           (ii) Any possible alternative methods of discharge, including
         discharge into any other receiving environment; and
   (c) Commission a report on any matters raised in relation to the
         application, including a review of any information provided in
         an application under section 88 (4) or under this section.

   (3) Where a consent authority seeks further information under
 subsection (2),---
   (a) It may postpone either the notification of, or the hearing on, the
         application until the information is received; and
   (b) It shall make that information available for public inspection at
         its principal office at least 15 working days before the
         hearing; and
   (c) It shall, upon receipt of any report that it commissioned, send a
         copy of the report to the applicant at least 15 working days
         before the hearing.

   (4) Further information may be required under this section only if the
 information is necessary to enable the consent authority to better
 understand the nature of the activity in respect of which the
 application for a resource consent is made, the effect it will have on
 the environment, or the ways in which any adverse effects may be
 mitigated.