13 March 2013

Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse letter to Housing Minister

Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse has today written to Housing Minister Nick Smith to request a meeting to explain Auckland Council’s request to allow the Unitary Plan to take effect on notification.

“The Minister has been clear that he doesn’t want to see any delay in action on Auckland’s housing issues. I’ve offered to meet with him to explain our proposal, which is crucial to meeting Auckland’s housing challenges without delay.

“Auckland Council’s proposal addresses an issue government says is central to housing affordability, by bringing the new rural-urban boundary into effect much more quickly.

“The Government’s current approach, which requires Council to work under the rules of the existing District Plans and Regional Policy Statement, will delay this new boundary until 2017. Our proposal means this process could be completed by as early as 2015.”

ENDS

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Scoop Business: Bathurst Gets Nod For DoC Access To Denniston Mine

Conservation Minister Nick Smith has approved access over conservation estate land for Bathurst Resources to develop an open cast coal mine on the Denniston Plateau, above Westport, to the dismay of environmental opponents.

The timing for Smith’s move avoids Bathurst having to resubmit applications for access agreements under the revised Crown Minerals Act, which comes into force tomorrow and would have required public consultation.

The announcement lands in the middle of delicate negotiations between the company, environmental groups and other interested parties that could pave the way to a broader agreement on the Escarpment proposal, whose resource consents are still subject to court appeals. More>>