1. STEVE CHADWICK (Labour—Rotorua) Link to this
to the Minister for the Environment
What reports, if any, has he received on changes to the Resource Management Act 1991?
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE (Minister for the Environment) Link to this
I have seen the most recent Transpower annual report for 2004-05. The only reference to the Resource Management Act in that document was a concern about how the Resource Management Act would work for a major infrastructure project that spans eight or more local authorities. That was exactly what this Parliament was considering when it passed the Resource Management Amendment Bill 2005 enabling the Government on matters of national significance to direct an application to be heard jointly where more than one council was involved. I have also seen Transpower’s latest 6-monthly report, published after that legislation came into force. Contrary to the statements made by Nick Smith in the House yesterday, that report makes no reference at all to the Resource Management Act. The Government had dealt with its concerns, which may explain why Nick Smith failed to table the document in the House yesterday that he said he would.
Madam SPEAKERHon DAVID BENSON-POPE Link to this
The latest World Bank report Doing Business ranks New Zealand second in the world in terms of cost to business in dealing with consents and licences, such as including Resource Management Act consent processes. Clearly this Government has got the balance right in terms of encouraging economic activity as well as environmental sustainability. When National voted against the Resource Management Amendment Bill and the Electricity Legislation Amendment Bill last year, it was voting against the very changes that industry, including infrastructure companies like Transpower, had requested to make consents even more efficient.
Hon Dr Nick Smith Link to this
Why does the Minister maintain that the Resource Management Act is not an impediment to improving security of supply of electricity, when Transpower applied for a resource consent with the Auckland City Council 2 years ago for an upgrade of the Ōtāhuhu-Penrose link—and this application involves no new towers, no change in voltage, only small engineering works to lift the crossbars to allow it to operate at higher capacity—but it will not get a hearing until later his year and a consent until 3 years after it applied for it, and how are we going to get secure supply for electricity if a consent as minor as that takes 3 years?
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE Link to this
I would be happy to look at the particulars. Obviously one of the things about this Government is that it does not interfere in statutory processes, but I would have to say that like all members of this House I would exercise extreme caution about any claim or statement made by that member.
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE Link to this
I have seen a report that National would “tear the guts out of the RMA”. That was Maurice Williamson in the latest edition of Driver Magazine. I think National needs to come clean with the citizens of this country and tell people that it has no interest in proper environmental safeguards and that it does not care about the huge economic advantage that this country gains from its clean, green image.
Hon Dr Nick Smith Link to this
Why does he refuse to accept that the Resource Management Act is not part of the problem with regard to electricity infrastructure, when in 2002 his Government spent $150 million on an emergency generation plant in the Hawke’s Bay because it was the only place where it was possible to get a consent and when it is widely accepted that it is in the wrong place—and Trevor Mallard has said as much—and that consideration is now being given to move it to Auckland or Christchurch; and if spending $150 million on a power plant in the wrong place is not sufficient to convince this Minister that change is required, what would be?
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE Link to this
A recent analysis from the Ministry for the Environment indicates that public works generally are being consented to by councils within 3 months of application. A report prepared for the Ministry for the Environment and the Ministry of Transport 3 years ago concluded that New Zealand performs well, compared with other countries, in terms of the time taken, for example, for roading projects to commence. The average time from inception to start of construction for major New Zealand roading is 2 years quicker than in the UK and 7 years quicker than in the US.
Hon Dr Nick Smith Link to this
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. My question was quite specific in respect of the consent issues around the emergency generation plant built in Napier that was in the wrong place. I have heard nothing in the Minister’s answers that even attempts to answer that question.
Certainly, the member did have that. The member’s question was very long, just as the Minister’s answers are very long. I ask the Minister to address the question succinctly.
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE Link to this
I do not accept the member’s proposition. The study prepared for the Ministry for the Environment and the Ministry of Transport shows that infrastructure projects are consented to very quickly, and comparatively much faster than in comparable jurisdictions.
Hon Dr Nick Smith Link to this
Does the Minister agree with Dr Keith Turner that reform of the Resource Management Act is critical to securing the supply of electricity in New Zealand, or does he intend to follow the path of David Parker, ignoring Dr Turner’s advice and then having to make the excuses for the lights going out?
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE Link to this
I note that Transpower on its own website makes the following statement: “Transpower recognises that the RMA provides a necessary framework for identifying and managing the environmental effects of development.”
Hon Dr Nick Smith Link to this
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. Dr Keith Turner is the chief executive of Meridian Energy. I made no mention of Transpower in my question. My concerns are as much about the generation as the transmission of electricity. I think the Minister should be required to answer the question.
Hon Dr Nick Smith Link to this
I seek the leave of the House to table National’s 34-point reform programme for the Resource Management Act, so that the House can be quite clear about National’s intentions for that Act.
Hon Trevor Mallard Link to this
I also seek leave to table a document, which is the electricity transmission grid security Government policy statement of 1997, which says, inter alia, that the changes were intended to ensure that consequences of poor decisions in determining grid security standards rests with Transpower’s customers.