MfE Briefing to the Incoming Minister released
December 11, 2008 – 1:37 pm
It's here.
I 'm only interested in the Resource Management Act part, so here's what the briefing said.
- Devolved RMA decision-making has exacerbated capacity issues in local government and led to variability in planning controls and consent processing. It is often difficult (both practically and politically) for councils to factor national benefits, priorities and strategies into planning and decision making when the costs of decisions fall locally.
- Central government is now making more use of the RMA instruments that offer greater national direction, involvement and guidance. Because there is no overall strategy for use of these powers, there is a lack of certainty about when and how central government will intervene.
- Under current RMA practice, effective and efficient resource allocation is not occurring, and new or expanding high-value uses are not being provided for. Problems are most keenly felt where resources are approaching or at full allocation in some areas: fresh water, coastal space, and air-sheds.
- The current ‘first-come-first-served’ system evolved from case law in the absence of central government direction, in a period of less resource competition.
Another thing worth to notice is that MfE stressed that "Meeting New Zealand’s international climate change obligations" as part of critical issues for environmental sustainability - bit harder for Rodney Hide to explain why he wants to dump the carbon credit system.
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