To all Northern Region NGO's:
- We have received information from unofficial
sources that the following is set to occur.
They are designed to appease a
vocal rural lobby, but will be disastrous for city environments,
democracy and community involvement. If you have any press or political
contacts please do your bit.
- NR NGO Forum has formed an RMA Policy group: Jane Wylie,
Christine Caughey, Chris Dempsey, Ann Fenn, Tom Fookes, Sue Conor, Bob
White, Stephen Knight. Others welcome.
- Feedback on proposals / possible safeguards to seek in the Act
needed from you.
Timeframe for RMA amendments
- Reference Group recommendations to
be posted this week on Environet
- Cabinet paper goes into system on 11
September & signed off on 21 September
- Main content to be announced
in speech to RMLA Conference Rotorua on 25 September
- Draft bill is
released for public comment mid-October
- Submissions are collated, and
bill introduced to Parliament in February 1998
- Select Committee process
March-May
MAIN PROPOSALS
- Amend the
definition of environment so that the sec 5 requirement to avoid, remedy
or mitigate adverse effects does not apply to socio-economic
effects.
- Drop section 7 in its entirety, except that the
reference to efficiency would
become part of a revised, simplified sec
32 which would be elevated to Part II of the Act.
- Amend sec 85 to provide a compensation entitlement for those whose development
opportunities are foregone by reason of rules protecting indigenous
vegetation, historic buildings or viewshafts
- De-regulate
subdivision, except (a) in the coastal environment; (b)
esplanade reserve requirements would be retained; and (c) specific
local effects could still be controlled (eg, stormwater run-off into
estuaries, septic tank effects on groundwater).
The aim is to sweep
away much "pointless" rural subdivision control, and also
controls on the sprawl and shape of cities.
- Contestable
consent processing
- Drop council
hearings on resource consent applications and have only one hearing of
the evidence, either before Commissioners or before the Environment Court,
but not both.
(Existing procedures for policies, plans and call-ins
would be unchanged).
- Exclude consideration of CO2 from the
RMA (this is contingent on Cabinet agreeing to a carbon charge in the
range $3-8/te CO2 ($11-30/te C).
Regards,
Jane
Wylie
Chair
NR NGO Forum
ph/fax 09.5755-824
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