Thousands of jobs on the cards thanks to fast-track consenting process

Environment Minister David Parker says the fast-track consenting process has delivered promising results over the past 18 months, including referrals for projects that will boost jobs and bring economic benefits across the country.

“At a time when the country needed a mechanism to generate jobs, build houses and infrastructure swiftly and provide investment certainty, the Fast-track process has delivered.”

Around 14,500 jobs and 7,000 homes are likely to be created around the country.

19 projects have already had consents granted by expert consenting panels. One referred project has been declined, a number varied and many have had appropriate conditions added – all promptly.

The fast-track process has seen a shared walking and cycling path connecting Wellington and Lower Hutt approved. The project will provide a safe, low-emissions transport option along a major commuter network.

A number of large housing developments in Auckland, Canterbury, Otago, and Hawkes Bay have all been referred via the process.

Applicants estimate that using the fast-track process saves an average of 15 months per project.

To date, 38 applications have been approved by the Environment Minister and been referred to an Expert Consenting Panel.

“I have declined to use the fast-track referral process for a number of proposals where I thought more public input via normal processes was more appropriate,” David Parker said.

The COVID-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting) Act 2020 was introduced to boost jobs and speed up infrastructure development, while protecting environmental outcomes by applying the normal RMA environmental tests, in response to the economic impacts of COVID-19.

The Government is reforming the resource management system, a once-in-a-generation opportunity to establish a system that is fit for the future and places the environment at the heart of New Zealand’s development and wellbeing.

Consideration will be given to whether some form of the fast-track system should be carried forward into the new system. If it is, there needs to be a person in authority taking the somewhat subjective decision of what projects ought – and ought not – to be able to use the fast-track process.

“Currently those screening decisions are taken by the Minister for the Environment, but that may not be practical for the future, and other ideas are welcomed,” David Parker said.

Notes

• Projects are considered under the fast-track process in two ways: those listed in the Act or those referred by the Minister for the Environment (and jointly with the Minister of Conservation if in the coastal marine area) through an order in council.
• It does not replace or circumvent the current Resource Management Act 1991 environmental test, but it provides alternative pathways for speeding up decisions on resource consents.
• The Act has a ‘sunset clause’ meaning it will be repealed on 9 July 2023. This date was extended by one year after the outbreak of the Delta strain of COVID-19 in 2021.
• The Resource Management Act 1991 will be repealed and replaced with a suite of new legislation: the Natural and Built Environments Act (NBA), the Strategic Planning Act (SPA) and the Climate Adaptation Act (CAA). The reform process is well underway, with the Government aiming to pass the NBA and SPA within this parliamentary term.