Council Urges Government To Use Call In Powers

Media Release – for immediate release

14 August 2007

New Zealand Construction Industry Council Urges Government To Use Call In Powers To Take Pressure Off RMA

The New Zealand Construction Industry Council has called on the government to make further use of its powers to call in nationally significant infrastructure projects.

Chief Executive Richard Michael welcomed the decision by Minister Peter Hodgson to call in Transpower’s Waikato to Auckland transmission line proposal.

He also urged the government to use the process to call in other nationally significant projects such as Meridian Energy’s revised Project Aqua hydroelectric scheme for the Waitaki River.

Mr Michael said that the NZCIC supported the Resource Management Act (RMA) but that a number of nationally significant projects, such as the main highway north of Wellington, had been hamstrung by it.

“The call in process is a very good tool, it is a very positive step that the government has decided to use it in this case and, hopefully, this is an indication that it may now be used more often,” said Mr Michael.

“Calling in such projects is the right process to go through and will take the pressure off RMA.

“It balances the national benefits against local issues, gives the communities involved the opportunity to put their case fully and ensures a much faster planning process. Early delivery of nationally significant projects benefits the economy as a whole.”

ENDS

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