Survey proves the RMA isn't working

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18 July 2007

Survey proves the RMA isn't working

The urgent need for change to the Resource Management Act has been confirmed by an independent survey of farmers.

The survey by Research New Zealand found that 73 percent of farmers with some experience of the RMA believed that the Act and how local councils apply it should be changed. Only three percent were happy with the RMA.

"The RMA is an important piece of legislation but the results of the survey give us a compelling mandate from agriculture, New Zealand's largest industry, that it is time for some fundamental changes," said Charlie Pedersen, President of Federated Farmers of New Zealand.

The survey also highlighted issues created by the Department of Conservation's considerable advocacy role in the formation of regional and district plans under the RMA. Only 23 percent of farmers who dealt with DoC during an RMA process were satisfied with the department's involvement in the process.

The cost of complying with the RMA was identified as another key problem. The survey found that farmers spent an average $5,413 on each resource consent.

"Extrapolating from the results, we estimate the total compliance cost to farming of the RMA is $81 million a year. In addition total direct costs and lost revenue to farming over the life of the RMA so far is estimated at $242 million.

"The survey of nearly 900 farmers backs the Federation's campaign seeking improvements to the RMA and processes. Time and resources have been invested in this project and Federated Farmers is committed to seeing it through in the long term.

"Federated Farmers is working for its members on this campaign and now we have an even stronger mandate to step up our campaign as a result of this survey. There is also clear evidence that many other sectors of the economy and society are not satisfied with the RMA. The Act has been amended 15 times in 16 years. It is clearly time to stop tinkering around the edges and begin the process of fundamental reform.

"We will continue to develop solutions with our members, these are not perfect but they are a constructive step forward. The Federation has come up with a six pack that would make a real difference for farmers living under the RMA cloud," Mr Pedersen said.

The 'six pack' of problems and solutions follows:

Federated Farmers' proposed solutions to problems with the RMA

Problem What's needed Solution Protection of nationally important sites on private land. Changes to section six of the act and its implementation to reward good stewardship with flexibility and freedom to farm. Amend RMA to recognise property rights. Consultation with landowners. Councils must understand what motivates on-farm decision making before writing policies and rules into plans Memorandum of Understanding or legislated consultation with individual landowners.

Department of Conservation's role. There are plenty of advocates for the environment, so taxpayer funded advocacy in the planning process must stop. Introduce a concept of net conservation benefit to enable a more holistic approach to on-farm conservation management.

RMA process Plans must encourage responsible farming by minimising those activities that require consent. Streamline process - one option is to introduce one-stop, on-farm visits to assess and approve resource consents. Providing for economically sustainable farming enterprises. Encourage and enable economically sustainable farming into the future with flexible subdivision policies.

Make policies flexible enough to cope with low impact on-farm subdivision. RMA and public access Farmers who provide the public with the use of their land or who farm in scenic, coastal or other areas that are highly visible should not be required to make changes to their farm management purely for public amenity. Tone down or remove the requirement to have regard to amenity values in section seven of the act.

ENDS

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