Can green roofs help with resource consent?

They can, although the benefits and requirements will vary between councils and individual projects.

A well-designed green roof can contribute to a project’s overall stormwater management strategy by:

• Reducing peak runoff during rainfall events
• Retaining rainfall and reducing the volume entering stormwater systems
• Delaying discharge into the stormwater network
• Improving water quality by filtering sediments and nutrients
• Reducing impervious surface area

This can be particularly useful where:

•  Impervious surface limits are tight
•  On-site stormwater attenuation is required
•  Downstream flooding is a concern
•  Low Impact Design (LID) or Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) principles are encouraged
•  There is an opportunity to reduce the size of conventional stormwater detention systems

The key is to consider the green roof early — not as an afterthought.