30 September 2008

Yoohoo! What's new? Nats regurgitate on RMA

"National today regurgitated the party policy I released for them last month – confirming once again that the general public will be cut out of the consultation process on new developments in favour of big business," Environment Minister Trevor Mallard said today.

"What's new? This simply confirms again that communities around the country should be very worried as National's proposal for fast tracking infrastructure projects will see them cut out of the consultation process, in order to help special business interests. The environment and local communities will suffer.

"National also proposes to create a brand new bureaucracy in Wellington for the development of National Policy statements and national environment standards that are already rolling out under our government.

"Essentially they will be shifting policy advisers from one government agency to a brand new one - to do the same job that is already done. It's simply batty nonsense from the Nats. So much for smaller government.

"The Labour-led government's reforms to the Resource Management Act have demonstrated that projects can get through the RMA process in acceptable timeframes and with public consultation and involvement intact.

"Just last month a call-in decision was made by the Board of Inquiry on a Contact Energy windfarm – a process that took nine months," Trevor Mallard said.

ENDS

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