logo
ECan chair rebuffs Government's directive to stop planning

ECan chair rebuffs Government's directive to stop planning

Environment Canterbury chairperson Craig Pauling (second left) takes part in a panel discussion during the Local Government NZ conference. Photo: David Hill / North Canterbury News
Councils have been urged "not to stop the planning" despite the government saying plan changes are a waste of ratepayers' money.
Environment Canterbury (ECan) chairperson Craig Pauling said the work of local government still needs to continue.
''At ECan we've already been impacted by stops to planning and I am personally disappointed some good things in our Regional Policy Statement, which would have made a difference, can't happen.''
The policy statements provide an overview of resource management issues in a region.
Resource Management Act (RMA) Reform Minister Chris Bishop this week announced the government would halt changes to district and regional plans.
It comes ahead of a shake-up of the RMA, which is expected to come into effect in 2027.
Pauling made his comments during a panel discussion at the Local Government NZ conference on Thursday, July 17.
''I would encourage you not to stop the planning. Don't stop thinking. You've got to do the analysis.
''Keep the thinking going, so when things do land you are in the best position.''
ECan voted in November to put its RPS on hold until January 2026, while it awaits more certainty with RMA reform.
It has been unable to adopt a plan change to fix issues in the Canterbury Land and Water Regional Plan, following a Supreme Court decision on a water bottling plant in Christchurch in 2023.
There has been speculation the RMA reform could lead to regional councils being scrapped, but both Bishop and Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour said no decision had been made.
Bishop, who met with regional council chairs during the conference, indicated an announcement was likely by the end of the year.
Pauling said it made sense to consider the shape of local government alongside the RMA reform, as regional councils came into being in 1989, in anticipation of the RMA, which was enacted in 1991.
He admitted there were flaws with the present model, as local and regional councils didn't always work together.
''My personal view is separating land-use between city and regional councils was wrong. We've had so many occasions when land-use has been consented non-notified and then it needs water table allocations (from the regional council).''
LGNZ passed a remit at its annual general meeting calling for a review of local government functions and governance arrangements.
Its chief executive Susan Freeman-Greene said local government needed to be proactive and lead the changes required.
Under existing legislation there are only two alternatives for regional government - regional councils and unitary authorities.
Speaking to Local Democracy Reporting, Pauling said more options were needed, as different regions had different challenges.
Canterbury is much larger than other regions, has more braided rivers and catchments, a centrally located population and sparsely populated districts such as Kaikōura, Hurunui, Mackenzie and Waimate.
''We need to be having the conversation and asking the questions. Would Kaikōura and Waimate survive as unitary authorities?''
Splitting the region into three - North, Mid and South Canterbury has been mooted - but Pauling thinks it would be ''problematic''.
South Canterbury would likely be the largest unitary authority in the country in terms of geography, but with a population of only 60,000.
The Hurunui district alone is the same size as Taranaki and half the size of Auckland, but with a much smaller population.
A Christchurch or Greater Christchurch unitary authority has also been mooted, but questions have been raised about whether the rest of Canterbury would have a sufficient ratepayer base to manage regional council functions.
Pauling said he believed it would be ''unworkable''.
Another option, which ECan councillors considered at a recent workshop, was a Canterbury or South Island Assembly.
This was based on the Greater Manchester model, where the existing local councils could continue and the mayors or council representatives and Mana Whenua representatives could form an assembly to make regional decisions.
Whatever is decided, Pauling said local communities need to be involved in the decision making ''or it wouldn't fly''.
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

EDS Submissions Highlight Serious Concerns Over Government's Resource Management Changes
EDS Submissions Highlight Serious Concerns Over Government's Resource Management Changes

Scoop

time17 hours ago

  • Scoop

EDS Submissions Highlight Serious Concerns Over Government's Resource Management Changes

The Environmental Defence Society (EDS) has today filed its very extensive submissions on the Government's review of national direction under the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA). The proposals, which are spread across three packages of Infrastructure and Development, Primary Sector and Freshwater, present an overwhelming shift towards prioritising use and development at the expense of the natural environment. National direction is the 'engine room' of the RMA. Regional policy statements and regional and district plans must 'give effect' to it and decision-makers on resource consent applications must 'have regard' to it. It therefore has significant ramifications for resource management decision-making. 'Taken together, the changes set out pose a significant risk to indigenous biodiversity, freshwater, wetlands, elite soils and the coastal marine environment. They will result in more inappropriate and environmentally damaging activities occurring in New Zealand's most sensitive places,' says EDS Chief Operating Officer and lawyer, Shay Schlaepfer. 'The environment is not in a healthy state. Monitoring shows ongoing declines in freshwater quality, more threatened and at risk species, a reduction in food producing land, continued loss of remaining wetlands and a marine environment under threat. 'The proposals are wilfully ignorant of that context. They are being pushed through under a 'growth at all costs' mentality that will result in more pollution for longer and more destruction of nature. This is not what the RMA provides for. 'EDS's key concerns with the proposals are: 1. Forestry review too narrow: The proposed changes fail to address systemic issues with forestry regulations which are resulting in extensive and damaging slash and sedimentation mobilisation events with corresponding devastating impacts on receiving environments and communities. 2. Infrastructure proposal lacks environmental considerations: The Government's expansive vision for infrastructure and development comes with no corresponding focus on protecting the natural environment. 3. Increased mining and quarrying in sensitive areas: The proposed changes will facilitate more mining and quarrying activities, directly threatening New Zealand's indigenous biodiversity, vulnerable wetlands and highly productive land. 4. Freshwater management at risk: The proposed changes would unwind decades of freshwater management progress, undermining hard-won legal protections in favour of short-term economic interests. 5. Natural hazards not taken seriously: A gaping hole in the proposals is any regulation to stop building in high hazards areas. If New Zealand is to get real about climate adaptation it needs to prioritise not making the situation worse in the first place. 'The review of national direction is being undertaken before replacement resource management laws are enacted in 'phase 3' of the Government's programme of RMA reform. Progressing substantial national direction review under a regime that is to be replaced, and then implementing those new instruments in a new regime which Ministers describe as being radically different, is a confusing, unstructured and backwards approach. 'This has been exacerbated by Minister Bishop's recent 'plan stop' announcement which has compounded uncertainty about how the package of national direction changes will be implemented. The Government needs to stop rushing and progress resource management reform on a more strategic, coherent footing. 'Most importantly, Government needs to acknowledge that economic growth and good environmental outcomes are both achievable. EDS's submissions propose changes to the policy settings which would bring the instruments into a more acceptable and lawful outcome,' concluded Ms Schlaepfer. Environmental Defence Society EDS speaks for the environment. It has influence. Since 1971, EDS has been driving environmental protection in Aotearoa New Zealand through law and policy change. That's why it's one of this country's most influential non- profit organisations when it comes to achieving better environmental outcomes. EDS has expertise in key disciplines including law, planning, landscape and science. It operates as a policy think-tank, a litigation advocate, and a collaborator – bringing together the private and public sectors for constructive engagement. EDS runs conferences and seminars on topical issues, including an annual Environmental Summit and the Climate Change and Business Conference. EDS is a registered charity and donations to it are tax-deductible.

‘Enduring' solutions important, councillors say
‘Enduring' solutions important, councillors say

Otago Daily Times

timea day ago

  • Otago Daily Times

‘Enduring' solutions important, councillors say

The Otago Regional Council building on the corner of Broadway and MacLaggan st. PHOTO: ODT FILES Resource management reform should produce "enduring, consistent and stable" solutions, Otago regional councillors say. The Otago Regional Council this week approved wide-ranging submissions on infrastructure and development, the primary sector, and freshwater management ahead of government reforms of the Resource Management Act and the national policy statements and standards that sit under it. Cr Tim Mepham said he was hopeful the council submissions would help to shape the new national directions. "But I definitely have concerns for our environmental management and the future of our freshwater quality. "I'm pretty happy with the comments that have been made in the submission in regards to the need for cross-party agreement because with the political cycles, to-ing and fro-ing, it doesn't create a lot of certainty." Cr Alan Somerville agreed. "Finding some enduring, consistent and stable solution to all this, so there aren't always changes, is very, very important," he said. The submissions demonstrated the value of local government and bringing together a diverse set of views around the council table, chairwoman Cr Gretchen Robertson said. "We listen to each other, just as we have again today and generally, we do come up with solutions that we all agree with — sometimes we don't, though, and that's fine as well." As well as the direct points the submissions made, the submissions made a "broader point" about the value the regional council provided "in partnership with central government and with mana whenua and with our communities", she said. The council submission on infrastructure and development national directions said infrastructure "in particular" needed a stable regulatory environment to drive investment. However, the submission on the primary sector also addressed the "need for enduring solutions". "Without broad political support for the proposals, there is a risk that future governments will reverse this reform, undermining the commitment of communities, industries, agencies and local authorities to plan their future and buy into actions that achieve the desired outcomes." The council supported moves "to better enable quarrying and mining". Its submission on commercial forestry had been drawn up with community concerns in mind, it said. "ORC is aware of the concerns that exist within Otago's communities about the conversion of large tracts of pastoral farmland into commercial forestry and how this may affect Otago's rural communities." The council submission on freshwater management said "three large overhauls" of freshwater policy — in 2014, 2017 and 2020 — "put considerable financial strain on councils and ratepayers and have disrupted planned or ongoing initiatives". The council also said it did not have a consensus view on whether the controversial concept of Te Mana o te Wai should be retained as the fundamental concept underpinning the national direction for freshwater. The council decided to finalise its submission on "going for housing growth" — a reform package designed to free up land for development and remove planning barriers — after staff had spoken to Otago's district and city councils.

Civil contracting future ‘bright', PM Christopher Luxon tells Tauranga conference
Civil contracting future ‘bright', PM Christopher Luxon tells Tauranga conference

NZ Herald

time2 days ago

  • NZ Herald

Civil contracting future ‘bright', PM Christopher Luxon tells Tauranga conference

'Another half a billion dollars worth of local government projects are also getting under way this year, including five projects here in Tauranga,' Luxon told the conference. He said the national infrastructure pipeline showed planned future projects across central and local government, and the private sector, totalling $207b. This was nearly $40,000 per person and $116,000 per household. 'For every $1b of infrastructure investment per year, that generates about 4500 jobs.' He said as work got under way on these projects, there would be 'real jobs and real opportunities' for thousands of Kiwis, and added momentum for economic recovery. 'We have turned the corner and the future for civil construction in New Zealand is bright.' Luxon said this was great news for the civil construction sector. 'We need the work to get done. We need action, we need shovels in the ground.' He did not give details of the five Tauranga projects when asked by the Bay of Plenty Times after his speech and said the Government would talk about these 'in due course'. He said a number of projects in Bay of Plenty were 'on the fast track'. Twelve Bay of Plenty projects have been listed to follow the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024 process. Bay of Plenty MP Tom Rutherford (left), Tauranga MP Sam Uffindell and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon at the Civil Contractors Conference. Photo / Kaitlyn Morrell Luxon said growth problems had been challenging for Tauranga. 'It's a region that should do exceptionally well with a Government that wants to streamline the resource management process and get fast-track projects up and running.' Tauranga was a growing economic powerhouse for New Zealand. 'That growth needs to have quality, modern and reliable infrastructure around it as well.' Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced at the conference that half a billion dollars worth of local government projects will be under way this year, including five in Tauranga. Photos / Kaitlyn Morrell Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale addressed the conference and said Tauranga continued to be one of the fastest-growing cities in the country. He said a well-formed regional deal should be a game-changer, not just for the Bay of Plenty but as a model for others across the country. 'We are investing heavily to keep pace with growth.' He said the current long-term plan included $500m in annual capital expenditure for the next 10 years. Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale is looking forward to faster, more efficient consenting for projects. Photo / Alisha Evans 'A significant proportion of this is dedicated to horizontal infrastructure.' He was encouraged by the Government's work to reform the Resource Management Act (RMA). 'Faster, more efficient consenting is something we can all look forward to and it will help bring costs down.' Developments in the Bay of Plenty included the Takatimu North Link, SH29 Tauriko-Ōmanawa Bridge and Te Tumu new housing area in Pāpāmoa East. Drysdale said the SH29 project would unlock industrial land, enable4000 new homes in the medium-term and support about 3000 new jobs. 'Infrastructure is too expensive in this country and we need to find ways of delivering more for less.' Civil Contractors New Zealand (CCNZ) president David Howard said the past year in the infrastructure industry had not been easy. 'I feel it's been a bit of a triple-whammy with central government cutting costs, new regulations coming in and councils rethinking their funding.' He said he remained hopeful that CCNZ had worked hard to get in front of the right decision-makers to explain the industry's needs. 'It's not easy to get Government attention, but we've made progress.' Kaitlyn Morrell is a multimedia journalist for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post. She has lived in the region for several years and studied journalism at Massey University.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store