7. CHRIS AUCHINVOLE (National—West Coast - Tasman) Link to this
to the Minister for the Environment
How are the Government’s resource management reforms assisting the economic recovery with jobs and investments?
Hon Dr NICK SMITH (Minister for the Environment) Link to this
The Resource Management (Simplifying and Streamlining) Amendment Act 2009 is assisting by reducing the delays for investors in getting resource consents for new developments. A good example is the new Countdown supermarket north of Auckland, which was the very first case under the new law of a direct referral to the Environment Court. The application was lodged in the court in February and approved in June, a period of just 4 months. This $22 million development involves 3,500 square metres of retail space and will employ 160 New Zealanders when it opens next year.
How do the time frames for this new supermarket compare with those of others north of Auckland previously, and what specific provisions made a material difference to this consent being processed so quickly?
Hon Dr NICK SMITH Link to this
I think all members of the House are aware of the Resource Management Act circus that has occurred so often in the past with regard to such supermarket developments. The worst case was the Wairau Park Pak ’N Save, which took 12 years to resolve, from the application in April 1997 to final approval in February 2009, through seven separate hearings and appeals. The key changes that have enabled this tight process are enabling direct referral to the Environment Court so that there is only one hearing, and specifically prohibiting objections from competitors. The dividend of this policy and law change is this $22 million investment and 160 new jobs.
Is there any evidence, given the concern from Opposition parties that these streamlined processes would compromise the environment, that this new development is of any lesser standard than those that have taken over a decade to get approval?
Hon Dr NICK SMITH Link to this
No. To the contrary, this development is widely supported by the local community and the council. The Environment Court concluded that this development would increase the vibrancy and vitality of the area generally, and would have significant benefits for the surrounding area. This is a very good example of how the Government’s policies are good for the environment, good for jobs, and good for growth.
Charles ChauvelTēnā koe, Mr Speaker. Tēnā koutou e the Whare. Is the Government considering, for phase two of its Resource Management Act reforms, restricting appeals to points of law only, rather than having them on the merits of the decision or the policy, as was done in Part 3 of the legislation that abolished Environment Canterbury?
Hon Dr NICK SMITH Link to this
There are 10 different work streams to phase two of our Resource Management Act reforms. The particular work that focuses on the issue raised by the member is that around infrastructure. This Government is determined to get infrastructure built more quickly, as part of our growth plans for New Zealand. There are also issues around urban design, where we do not believe that the Resource Management Act has worked well in bringing together the good development of cities like Auckland and of the infrastructure at the right time. We are awaiting those final reports before we make decisions on the detail of the phase two reforms.
What is the likelihood of the Land and Water Forum reporting back to the Government on 31 August, given reports that tempers are fraying between environment groups and the dairy sector over key elements of the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management; and what effect will any delay have on the introduction of any new legislation or policy?
Hon Dr NICK SMITH Link to this
I think that everybody in this House would acknowledge that there are real challenges around the intensification of agriculture and its impacts on water quality. The previous Government struggled in this area. We have attempted to bring the various parties together, with the Land and Water Forum. I remain optimistic that that collaborative process will deliver a programme by which we can deliver on the blue-green ideals of this Government to grow the economy and to maintain the high standards that are so important to our country.
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I listened carefully to the Minister’s answer. My question was specifically about whether there were likely to be delays in the report that was the subject of the question, and, if there were delays, whether that would have any effect on any reforms of law or policy. I am not sure whether the Minister addressed that question.
Mr SPEAKERHon Dr NICK SMITH Link to this
The member, in his question, specifically referred to tensions in the Land and Water Forum, which is due to report by the end of next month, and I responded fairly to the point that the member had raised.
I think there is merit in the Minister’s response to that point of order. Had the member asked specifically whether the forum would report by a certain date, then we could have pinned the Minister down. But, given the rest of the question, I believe that it is not reasonable to ask me to pin the Minister down to any part of it.