27 November 2012

Regional Council welcomes report on oil exploration

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council welcomes the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment’s investigation into fracking released today.

The practice of hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, was the subject of a study requested in part by a unanimous recommendation from HBRC Councillors in February 2012.

HBRC Chief Executive Andrew Newman supports the report’s comments on regulation, coordination and consistency as a means of clarifying the role regional councils plays in this activity.

“We welcome the Commissioner’s report on fracking which supports all parties, regional councils included, working in a more collaborative manner,” says Mr Newman.

“We agree with the comments on better oversight and regulation of the processes, so as to achieve a good balance between economic growth, health and safety and environmental management.”

The Commissioner’s report identifies that the environmental risks associated with fracking can be effectively managed, also addressing health and safety risks, providing that best operational practices are implemented and enforced through regulation. The report was issued with a statement that the Energy and Resources Minister, Phil Heatley and Environment Minister, Amy Adams would lead the development of best practice guidelines for the regulation of fracking, in collaboration with local government.

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council voted unanimously in February 2012 to request the Commissioner to instigate a study on the likely risks and benefits of oil exploration using hydraulic fracturing on the East Coast. HBRC has not received any recent resource consent applications for oil exploration in the Hawke’s Bay region. Under the Resource Management Act, councils are obliged by law to accept any resource consent applications they receive, and to subsequently process them.

ENDS

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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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• NZ Govt - Housing accords legislation passes first reading - Legislation For Housing Accords, Land Supply - Housing package improves affordability, access
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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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• 2010 image via: Pacific.Scoop - Media watcher gives NZ press nil score card for China oil spill coverage