Latest news with #FastTrackApprovalsAct
Scoop
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Greenpeace Calls On Chris Hipkins To Take A Courageous Stand Against Seabed Mining
Press Release – Greenpeace For more than ten years, Trans-Tasman Resources has suffered defeat after defeat in the courts and faced opposition from Greenpeace and the Taranaki community, including iwi, commercial and recreational fishers and surfers. Greenpeace is calling on the leader of the opposition, Chris Hipkins, to take a public stand and pledge that seabed mining will never happen under a Labour-led government. A petition to the Labour Party leader launched this week has already gained more than 2200 signatures. Greenpeace spokesperson Juressa Lee says: 'The Luxon government seems intent on waging war on nature – but Governments come and go, and they won't be in control forever. That's why we're calling on Chris Hipkins to promise that any seabed mining consents granted under the Luxon government will be revoked by Labour if it gets elected. 'Despite failing again and again to win approval for its seabed mining project, wannabe miners Trans-Tasman Resources have applied to the Environmental Protection Authority for permission to mine the South Taranaki Bight under the Luxon government's Fast Track process. 'That's why we're launching a new call on the leader of the opposition, Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins, to take a stand and ensure this destructive industry never gets off the ground in Aotearoa.' For more than ten years, Trans-Tasman Resources has suffered defeat after defeat in the courts and faced opposition from Greenpeace and the Taranaki community, including iwi, commercial and recreational fishers and surfers. Juressa Lee says: 'Yet now, like a zombie, TTR is rising from the dead by taking advantage of the Fast Track Approvals Act to bypass environmental protections. 'That's why it's urgent the opposition leader Chris Hipkins takes a stand against seabed mining the Taranaki Bight. 'Chris Hipkins will also be in tune with the weight of public opinion in Aotearoa. Nearly 54,000 people signed the last Greenpeace petition to ban seabed mining.' Trans-Tasman Resources is planning to extract 50 million tonnes of iron sand from the South Taranaki Bight every year for 35 years and dump 45 million tonnes a year back into the ocean. Seabed mining in the South Taranaki Bight would damage rich ecosystems and threaten precious marine life such as the pygmy blue whale, Māui and Hector's dolphins and kororā.
Scoop
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Greenpeace Calls On Chris Hipkins To Take A Courageous Stand Against Seabed Mining
Greenpeace is calling on the leader of the opposition, Chris Hipkins, to take a public stand and pledge that seabed mining will never happen under a Labour-led government. A petition to the Labour Party leader launched this week has already gained more than 2200 signatures. Greenpeace spokesperson Juressa Lee says: "The Luxon government seems intent on waging war on nature - but Governments come and go, and they won't be in control forever. That's why we're calling on Chris Hipkins to promise that any seabed mining consents granted under the Luxon government will be revoked by Labour if it gets elected. "Despite failing again and again to win approval for its seabed mining project, wannabe miners Trans-Tasman Resources have applied to the Environmental Protection Authority for permission to mine the South Taranaki Bight under the Luxon government's Fast Track process. "That's why we're launching a new call on the leader of the opposition, Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins, to take a stand and ensure this destructive industry never gets off the ground in Aotearoa." For more than ten years, Trans-Tasman Resources has suffered defeat after defeat in the courts and faced opposition from Greenpeace and the Taranaki community, including iwi, commercial and recreational fishers and surfers. Juressa Lee says: "Yet now, like a zombie, TTR is rising from the dead by taking advantage of the Fast Track Approvals Act to bypass environmental protections. "That's why it's urgent the opposition leader Chris Hipkins takes a stand against seabed mining the Taranaki Bight. "Chris Hipkins will also be in tune with the weight of public opinion in Aotearoa. Nearly 54,000 people signed the last Greenpeace petition to ban seabed mining." Trans-Tasman Resources is planning to extract 50 million tonnes of iron sand from the South Taranaki Bight every year for 35 years and dump 45 million tonnes a year back into the ocean. Seabed mining in the South Taranaki Bight would damage rich ecosystems and threaten precious marine life such as the pygmy blue whale, Māui and Hector's dolphins and kororā.
RNZ News
24-04-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Tolling an option for Mill Road project planned for south Auckland
Transport Minister Chris Bishop Photo: RNZ/Calvin Samuel Transport Minister Chris Bishop is welcoming the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Board's endorsement and approval of a $91.1 million investment case for Mill Road. The funding will complete the design work and securing consents on stage one. Bishop said Mill Road was a crucial Road of National Significance, one of 17 for the government. "South Auckland is the fastest growing area in the Auckland region, with 120,000 more people expected to make it their home over the next 30 years. We need to get on and deliver crucial transport infrastructure that supports that kind of growth, reduces congestion, improves safety, and helps unlock housing," Bishop said. "Delivering Mill Road Stage 1 has substantial benefits, including a 30 percent reduction in congestion on the corridor, over 60 percent reduction in deaths and serious injuries, and by 2031, 25 percent faster journey times." However, Bishop didn't rule out the inclusion of tolling for the new piece of roading. He said the government policy statement on land transport 2024 required Waka Kotahi to consider tolling for all new Roads of National Significance . "The investment case confirms tolling is possible and the revenue will support the construction and maintenance of the road." The benefit cost ratio would be 2.2 if tolled, and un-tolled the ratio would be 3.1. "The government will consider this recommendation and announce next steps of the process in due course," he said. Photo: Supplied / NZTA The investment case for Mill Road Stage 1 (Manukau to Alfriston) includes: The Transport Minister said it was anticipated construction could begin as early as the middle of next year. "Technical work to secure the route protection and other approvals for future Stages 2 and 3 is scheduled to begin from mid-2026," he said. "In order to deliver benefits for the people, communities and businesses of South Auckland as soon as possible, NZTA are planning on dividing the construction of Stage 1 in different construction packages so they can start work sooner in places where there is more certainty around the existing environment. "The plan is to focus on Stage 1b from Hollyford Drive to Hilltop Road, along with a piece of work to the south (Stage 1d), which includes roundabout improvements around the Mill Road Alfriston area. Stage 1a between State Highway 1 (SH1) and Hollyford Drive and Stage 1c from Hilltop Road to north of Alfriston will be delivered later." The Minister said NZTA was working "at pace to build on earlier designs". It focus included improving the efficiency and resilience of the corridor, and increasing capacity to deliver faster, more reliable journey times. "The project will also seek to obtain statutory approvals, likely via the Fast Track Approvals Act, and this will be confirmed in coming months." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
23-04-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Tolling an option for $91m Mill Road project planned for south Auckland
Transport Minister Chris Bishop Photo: RNZ/Calvin Samuel Transport Minister Chris Bishop is welcoming the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Board's endorsement and approval of a $91.1 million investment case for Mill Road. The funding will complete the design work and securing consents on stage one. Bishop said Mill Road was a crucial Road of National Significance, one of 17 for the government. "South Auckland is the fastest growing area in the Auckland region, with 120,000 more people expected to make it their home over the next 30 years. We need to get on and deliver crucial transport infrastructure that supports that kind of growth, reduces congestion, improves safety, and helps unlock housing," Bishop said. "Delivering Mill Road Stage 1 has substantial benefits, including a 30 percent reduction in congestion on the corridor, over 60 percent reduction in deaths and serious injuries, and by 2031, 25 percent faster journey times." However, Bishop didn't rule out the inclusion of tolling for the new piece of roading. He said the government policy statement on land transport 2024 required Waka Kotahi to consider tolling for all new Roads of National Significance . "The investment case confirms tolling is possible and the revenue will support the construction and maintenance of the road." The benefit cost ratio would be 2.2 if tolled, and un-tolled the ratio would be 3.1. "The government will consider this recommendation and announce next steps of the process in due course," he said. The Transport Minister said it was anticipated construction could begin as early as the middle of next year. "Technical work to secure the route protection and other approvals for future Stages 2 and 3 is scheduled to begin from mid-2026," he said. "In order to deliver benefits for the people, communities and businesses of South Auckland as soon as possible, NZTA are planning on dividing the construction of Stage 1 in different construction packages so they can start work sooner in places where there is more certainty around the existing environment. "The plan is to focus on Stage 1b from Hollyford Drive to Hilltop Road, along with a piece of work to the south (Stage 1d), which includes roundabout improvements around the Mill Road Alfriston area. Stage 1a between State Highway 1 (SH1) and Hollyford Drive and Stage 1c from Hilltop Road to north of Alfriston will be delivered later." The Minister said NZTA was working "at pace to build on earlier designs". It focus included improving the efficiency and resilience of the corridor, and increasing capacity to deliver faster, more reliable journey times. "The project will also seek to obtain statutory approvals, likely via the Fast Track Approvals Act, and this will be confirmed in coming months." The investment case for Mill Road Stage 1 (Manukau to Alfriston) includes: Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
