Civil Fees Review - under the radar

At the 11th hour the Thorndon Society became aware of the Civil Fees Review, a review of fees for courts and tribunal services in the civil jurisdiction.

The Society is most concerned about the proposed new fee structure for Environment Court appeals. It is proposed that the initator of an appeal will now have to pay for mediations and hearings. It is claimed that the new fees are modest but it is stated that the fee settings will set a path for future fee adjustments.

The Thorndon Society managed to get a quick submission lodged before the deadline on 2 November but what has surprised us is the general lack of knowledge about the review. It has gone in under the radar. We are particularly concerned that it has serious implications for individuals and community groups who may wish to appeal decisions on District Plan reviews, plan changes and resource consents.

On the RMA/planning side it looks like another measure of the current Government to fetter any opposition to proposed development.

It is a matter that should be aired.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On The 2013 Budget

Among Thursday’s main talking points:

We are apparently on track for a margin-of-error $75 million surplus, now in sight for 2014/15. But this sickly creature is hobbling out of the lab on the basis of all kinds of facilitative conjuring: such as trimming by $200 million the amount of new spending next time around.

With this strictly nominal surplus in sight, the 1984-ish justification for eternal austerity will have a news talisman: namely, getting Crown debt down to 20% of GDP by 2020. More>>

Budget Report, Lockup Audio & Images: Budget Day 2013 As always and especially after the managerial mishaps of the past few weeks and months, (e.g. Aaron Gilmore, the Mighty River Power share float, the GCSB mishaps) Budget Day 2013 was always going to be a pageant of reassurance... More>>

Budget 2013 Comment: Plain Sailing, But It's No America's Cup Pattrick Smellie: Compared to the last four budgets, this year's reflects an economy moving out of recession and into calmer waters... Yet if the fastest annual growth rate we can expect over the next two years is 3 percent - with the Christchurch rebuild in full swing - then you'd have to say New Zealand's underlying low-growth problem is far from fixed. More>>

Auckland Discord: Govt’s Power Hungry Housing Approach A Threat - Labour

Last week the Government said this, ‘The Government commits not to use any proposed or existing powers ... to override the council's planning and consenting processes’. But its housing Bill says this; ‘If an accord cannot be reached in an area of severe housing unaffordability, the Government can intervene by establishing special housing areas and issuing consents for developers’. More>>

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Extending Protest Ban, Relaxing Permit Rules: Govt Abuses Urgency To Extend Anadarko Amendment

The Government is trying to pass legislation under urgency which would make the Anadarko Amendment – which limits protest at sea – apply to an additional 1.7 million square kilometres, the Green Party said today. More>>

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