Except as provided for in subsection (1C), a consent authority must not extend, under subsection (1)(a), the time period for processing and deciding an application for a resource consent for a wood processing activity or specified energy activity (see section 88BA).

A consent authority may extend the time period for processing and deciding an application for a resource consent for a wood processing activity or specified energy activity where the authority has reasonable grounds to believe the activity may have a significant adverse effect on the environment.