Election 2017 - Party Policies - Environment/Housing - Resource Management Act
27th May 17, 9:30am
by
Resource Management Act
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- Take Cities Out of the Resource Management Act. ACT would rewrite the Resource Management Act, and introduce new supply-focused urban planning legislation for cities of 100,000 people or more.
- Urban environments, and areas at the edges of our cities should not be regulated and protected in the same ways as undeveloped natural environments.
- ACT's urban development legislation would prioritise supplying land and infrastructure, in response to demand.
- We would set price thresholds above which land would be automatically released for development. It would include obligations to set out future infrastructure corridors.
- We would make zoning less restrictive, with fewer levels and types of zoning.
- Read more here.
- Increase the Ministry for the Environment’s environmental legal aid assistance fund, so that citizens' groups can take part in RMA cases with good legal, planning, technical and scientific advice.
- Develop effective National Policy Statements and National Environmental Standards that are effective in achieving the purpose of the RMA, with councils able to set higher standards where appropriate.
- Ensure that councils enforce consent conditions to protect the environment
- Adequately resource the Department of Conservation to advocate for the preservation and protection of natural resources under the RMA
- Ensure that when evaluating RMA consent applications, the consenting authority shall consider every kind of environmental impact, including climate change and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Read more here.
- Retain the RMA and reverse objectionable changes made to it by National.
- Convene a panel of resource management, process and public participation experts to evaluate the collective outcome of amendments to the RMA since it was passed in 1991, and to advise on how to ensure the Act remains fit for purpose.
- Ensure that local government engages effectively with iwi in planning, policy-making, and decision-making
- Investigate opportunities for better integrating processes between the RMA and other legislation.
- Mandate either the Audit Office or the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to audit the work of RMA consent authorities in monitoring consent or plan condition compliance and ensuring that conditions are complied with.
- Read more here.
Not yet available on their website.
- Reforming the Resource Management Act to improve environmental management and deliver more homes and infrastructure at pace.
- National will provide stronger direction through national standards to get consistent environmental and economic outcomes.
- Review existing urban planning legislation to assess the benefits of integrating the Local Government Act, Land Transport Act and Resource Management Act.
- Introduce new fit-for-purpose urban planning laws separate from the Resource Management Act to encourage more responsive planning, faster development, and better protection for the environment in our growing cities.
- Read more here and here.
- Repeal all race-based provisions and ensure the Resource Management Act is based on the concept of one law for all.
- Enhance the value of the pre-hearing phase by empowering councils to ensure the attendance of relevant parties; requiring that specific and agreed timelines be established; ensuring that the necessary evidence be established along with the expertise required; requiring that those who facilitate the pre-hearings phase have a comprehensive understanding of the RMA; and, by ensuring that any costs required to change the pace or scope of the process be met by the party requiring that change.
- Amend the RMA to set out a process allowing the combining of several local body jurisdictions for one consent process in clearly defined circumstances.
- Amend definitions and require authorities to maintain registers of sacred sites defined under section 6(e) and of recognized Iwi Authorities (or where applicable hapū) and appropriate personnel.
- Introduce greater certainty, transparency, and accountability and require that payment must always be for services rendered.
- Read more here.
Not yet available on their website.
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