RMA Changes To Build Infrastructure Smarter, Faster, Better

Smarter, faster, better infrastructure will be built thanks to the proposed changes to the Resource Management Act. The long-awaited changes revealed today will provide clearer, easier to understand rules for the infrastructure sector, says Infrastructure New Zealand.

Chief Executive Nick Leggett says the two new bills that will be introduced to replace the RMA will provide certainty and drive the infrastructure development the country desperately needs. “New Zealand has to move much faster when it comes to delivering the critical infrastructure our communities rely on, in this context, these reforms are long overdue”.

According to the Infrastructure Commission, developers spend $1.29 billion each year to consent their projects. Under the reforms, up to 22,000 consents will no longer be needed. That’s up to 46% of consent deemed as entirely unnecessary under the new system. “The current system is slowing down our ability to get things done, placing a handbrake on growth and productivity”, Leggett says.

Standardisation will allow for more hospitals, schools and other critical infrastructure to be built. New spatial plans to identify infrastructure required to support 30 years of growth and a National Policy direction to identify priorities are crucially important to help the country prioritise what needs to be built, and where.

Infrastructure New Zealand encourages as many New Zealanders as possible to submit on the proposed legislation. “We have been dealing with uncertainty for a long time. This is complex but vitally important legislation that will shape how Aotearoa grows for decades to come, and it’s incredibly important that people get their say”, Leggett urges. While parts of the legislation may need to be changed, the country needs to be a part of this discussion.

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