EDS responds to Minister’s criticisms

EDS has responded to “combative” comments by Environment Minister Amy Adams earlier today regarding the Society’s criticisms of the proposed changes to the Resource Management Act.

“The Minister says that we are scaremongering and that core environmental protections “will, in many cases, be strengthened by the government’s proposals.”

“Well we disagree strongly. The proposed changes to sections 6 and 7 of the Act, especially the introduction of new economic development objectives, will weaken, not strengthen environmental protections,” said EDS Chairman Gary Taylor.

“That’s deeply worrying. If it’s not the government’s intention to do that, fine. Changes can be made once the consultation period is complete. By all means let’s strengthen environmental protections.

“What we don’t like are proposals to give Ministers much greater powers to insert provisions directly into council plans and to take more decision-making away from them without due process. The Environment Court is an important check on excesses and needs to be retained in the process.

“Further, it’s misleading of the Minister to characterise our position as being opposed to improvements in the efficiency of RMA processes. EDS specifically supports process improvements and tighter consenting timelines as well as enhanced guidance to councils.

“There are many improvements that can be made to the RMA that would make it work better, not just for developers, but for everyone.

“We note that our concerns have been reinforced by comments by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Dr Jan Wright, who said that the RMA is “not an economic development act.”

“We think that a direct dialogue with the Minister is the best way forward,” Mr Taylor concluded.
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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