Nick Smith24 August,
2010 - The Environmental Protection Authority
is expected to receive infrastructure applications
totalling more than $6 billion by the end
of next year, Environment Minister Nick
Smith says.
"The national consenting
option provided in the first phase of the
Government Resource Management Act reforms
has attracted a high level of interest in
applications," Dr Smith said. "This
new one-step process overseen by the Environment
Protection Authority, or EPA, requires a
decision within nine months with limited
appeal rights.
"There have been
real problems with resource consenting with
infrastructure projects like the Wellington
Inner City Bypass taking 15 years, the Whangamata
Marina taking 12 years, the Northern Gateway
taking 10 years and the Wairakei geothermal
expansion taking six years.
"The EPA has already
received two major applications - Contact
Energy's $1 billion Tauhara II geothermal
station near Taupo and last Friday received
an application from the New Zealand Transport
Agency for the $2 billion Waterview Connection
on State Highway 20.
"The EPA is also
aware of six other major infrastructure
projects that are likely to be lodged with
it over the next year, including Transmission
Gully in Wellington and the Stage 2 motorway
in Christchurch. The expected total infrastructure
investment being considered by the EPA during
this term of Parliament is worth more than
$6 billion.
"These changes
to efficiently process major infrastructure
projects are an important part of the Government's
economic and jobs strategy that is starting
to pay dividends."
+ More
New RMA efficiency measure
takes effect
Nick Smith1 August,
2010 - New regulations requiring councils
to provide a discount for late processing
of resource consents come into effect tomorrow
and will reduce delays and help the economic
recovery, Environment Minister Nick Smith
says.
The Resource Management
(Discount on Administrative Charges) Regulations
2010 take effect on 2 August and require
a minimum of a 1% discount for each day
a consent is processed beyond the 20-working
day statutory requirement up to a maximum
of 50%. Councils may provide a more generous
discount policy if they wish.
"There is a real
cost in jobs and economic activity in having
nearly a third of all resource consents
delayed. These financial penalties on councils
for late consents will help focus officials
on the wider importance of timeliness,"
Dr Smith said.
"Between 1999 and
2008 there was an appalling deterioration
in the efficiency of resource consent processing
with the number of consents where councils
granted themselves an extension growing
from 3% to 28% and those processed late
increasing from 18% to 31%. Historically
less than half of consents have been processed
within the 20-day statutory period.
"I know some councils
are uncomfortable with these financial penalties
for lateness but if it is good enough for
the goose it is good enough for the gander.
Councils put penalties on rates if they
are paid late so it is fair enough that
when councils are late, they too face financial
penalties.
"Ministry for the
Environment officials have held well attended
council presentations in all regions to
explain the regulations and provide guidance
on how they are to be implemented. Feedback
from councils is that they are now considering
how they can make their processes more efficient
to ensure they meet RMA timeframes.
"I am confident
these new regulations will drive a substantial
improvement in timeliness, enabling businesses
to get on and create the jobs and economic
activity needed to help the economy recover."
