Photo: RNZ / Dom Thomas
Another Resource Management Act (RMA) change has passed in Parliament, this one focused on speeding up consenting while the government works on more a permanent replacement.
The Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Bill makes a range of changes, including:
- Requires councils to grant consents for certain energy infrastructure within a year (or two if extended)
- Allows Auckland and Christchurch to opt out of medium density housing requirements
- Removes heritage protection for the Gordon Wilson flats in Wellington and sets up a simpler process for removing heritage protections so that the economic viability of restoration is considered
- Allows discharges into waterways if councils are confident their planning will improve the waterway within a decade
- Removes a range of freshwater planning requirements from farmers
- Allows the Environment Minister to intervene when councils fail to follow National Policy Statement requirements
- Requires Auckland Councils to allow more housing development around key City Rail Link stations
- Helps set the system up for shifting to new resource management laws
In a statement, the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Chris Bishop said the legislation brought in sweeping changes, removing handbrakes on New Zealanders' lives, helping drive economic growth, and laying the groundwork for job creation.
"Our full replacement for the RMA will be introduced to Parliament this year, be passed into law next year, and be in effect by 2027- but in the meantime, through this Amendment Bill, we're making it quicker and simpler to consent renewable energy, boost housing supply, and reduce red tape for the primary sector," he said.
Green MP Lan Pham in her speech on the bill said it was part of an "absolute onslaught when it comes to rushed, ill-thought out legislation" from the government, saying the bill was piecemeal and would make things more complicated for councils.
She pointed to the changes around freshwater which were introduced in an amendment on Wednesday, saying it "completely and utterly failed to protect fresh water for all Kiwis".
"This is so significant that for the first time in the Resource Management Act's (RMA) history-an Act that was set up to deliberately avoid, remedy, or mitigate environmental impacts-this bill now directly allows and permits significant adverse effects in our most degraded waterways."
The bill is expected to come into force after receiving royal assent in the coming days.
Bishop said the next phase of the Resource Management reform process would include the complete replacement of the RMA with two laws "that better reflect the importance of private property rights". It would be passed into law next year and come into effect by 2027.
