BusinessNZ says draft legislation to amend the Resource Management Act is worthwhile.

Chief Executive Phil O’Reilly says business is disappointed that the political landscape has made it impossible to change the Act substantively to make it more fit for its purpose of promoting sustainable development.
But he says the changes contained in the Resource Legislation Amendment Bill released today could significantly improve planning and consenting processes.

“While the Bill does not meaningfully address core fundamental problems with the RMA, it does make way for improvements in the way the RMA is implemented.

“The Bill would give better direction to councils in developing plans, allow for faster consenting, curb council fees and constrain councils from some overly intrusive regulation – changes that would be welcomed by business.
“If passed, this Bill could remove a significant amount of the frustration experienced by applicants for resource consents.”

But Mr O’Reilly said he hoped future legislation would address RMA issues not addressed by the Bill including:
• RMA’s damaging “either/or” approach to the environment and the economy – instead of supporting and facilitating both
• RMA’s preoccupation with sustainable management, to the detriment of sustainable development
• RMA’s lack of recognition of property rights
• RMA’s lack of compensation for removal of property rights or loss of value
• RMA’s lack of provision for contestable consenting