17 December 2010

16 December, 2010

Council seeks changes to RMA proposals

The council’s submission to the Ministry for the Environment’s review of the Resource Management Act focuses on how proposed changes to the planning system relate to the spatial plan (known as the Auckland Plan), which will be released for public consultation in March next year.

The plan will guide Auckland’s economic, environmental, social and cultural development over the next 30 years. An option set out in the government’s discussion document is for a Policy Statement setting out national policy objectives for Auckland.

The council believes this has a short term focus and is an inappropriate fit to the long term approach of the Auckland Plan. The council wants to see the government set clear objectives delivered in partnership with the council so Auckland objectives can shape central government policies and decisions related to Auckland.

The council agrees with government proposals for a National Policy Statement on the Urban Environment because of the RMA’s current greater focus on the natural and physical environments rather than the urban environment. The council believes this would result in better outcomes for urban areas by taking into account the impact development in one area has on another area.

Prostitutes Collective to address councillors

The Manukau City Council (Regulation of Prostitution in Specified Places) Bill submission item was deferred until 15 February when the Regional Development and Operations Committee, chaired by Councillor Ann Hartley and including all councillors, will receive a deputation from the New Zealand Prostitutes' Collective. As part of its decision-making, councillors wish to consult this group, which advocates for the rights of sex workers.

Submission on alcohol reform deferred until February

Chair of the council's Community Safety Forum, George Wood, updated councillors on the key aspects of the draft submission on the Alcohol Reform Bill. It was decided to refer finalising the submission to the 15 February Regional Development and Operations Committee to enable all councillors to participate in reviewing and approving the extensive information on this key piece of legislation.

ENDS

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Gordon Campbell: On The Government's Assault On Maori

This isn’t news, but the National-led coalition is mounting a sustained assault on Treaty rights and obligations. Even so, Christopher Luxon has described yesterday’s nationwide protests by Maori as “pretty unfair.” Poor thing. In the NZ Herald, Audrey Young has compiled a useful list of the many, many ways that Luxon plans to roll back the progress made here over the past 40 years in race relations... More