Submissions are your chance to share your opinions, observations or preferred choice with the Council for us to consider when we make decisions. This page is your quick guide to submissions, how to make one and what happens when you do.

What is a submission?

Submissions are a form of community feedback that people, groups and organisations give to us about matters we are considering. We collect submissions during a community consultation process.

Your submission can support or oppose something we are proposing to do, make a suggestion, or simply provide your point of view on a matter. Your submission is publicly available and other members of the community can read it. We use submissions to understand the different perspectives our community has, discover things we might not have been aware of, and consider what the best options are for our district. They help us make good decisions.

We regularly ask for submissions on issues that affect our community. Your submission is an opportunity to make your voice heard on matters that are important to you, so if you have something to say you should make a submission – we read and consider every single one.

By making a submission, you also have the chance to speak directly to Council during our public hearings. Only people who make a submission can speak at hearings.

We often receive submissions that have different viewpoints from one another, and it is our job to consider these perspectives and balance what everyone is telling us. Sometimes the decisions we make are what you had hoped for, and sometimes they may not be the outcome you wanted. By giving us your submission, you ensure that we can take your views into account.

Here are some useful guidelines that explain the submission and hearing process for the current consultation on Upper Selwyn Huts Future Deed of Licence

Who can submit?

  • Any individual, group, or organisation can make a submission.
  • Only one submission per individual, group or organisation will be accepted to ensure fairness and manageability.
  • You may make a submission as an individual and also be part of a separate submission from a group or organisation (e.g., a residents’ association or business).
  • Submissions from different members of the same household are allowed, each person’s submission is considered a single submission.

Late submissions

  • Late submissions may be accepted at the discretion of the Council. Factors considered will include the reason for the delay and the potential impact on the decision-making process.
  • Late submissions will be acknowledged and processed in the same manner as on-time submissions if accepted.

If you wish to speak at a hearing

  • Submitters can indicate their wish to speak at a hearing when making their submission.
  • Each submitter will be allocated five minutes to present their submission.
  • Councillors may then ask questions to clarify points made in your submission.
  • By speaking to your submission, you consent to this information being made public, including livestreaming on the Selwyn District Council's YouTube Channel.
  • Each person may speak once to their own submission. However, you may also be nominated to speak on behalf of another submitter. The person you are representing must confirm this when contacted to arrange a speaking time.
  • If you are submitting on behalf of an organisation and the organisation has indicated it wishes to be heard, you will be contacted to nominate one representative to speak on behalf of the organisation.
  • If you are speaking to your own submission and on behalf of an organisation, you will be allocated five minutes for your own submission and five minutes for the organisation’s submission.
  • The Council will accommodate all requests to speak, subject to time and resource constraints.

Important notes

Offensive or defamatory content will not be considered.

If you have any questions about the submission process, please contact huts@selwyn.govt.nz