'One-stop shop': fast track consenting process established

The coalition Government has announced the introduction of a "one-stop-shop" for fast track consenting of regional and national projects of significance, said RMA Minister Chris Bishop and Minister for Regional Development Shane Jones.

Cabinet has approved the Fast Track Approvals Bill, a key component of the Government's 100-day plan, and it will receive its first reading under urgency this afternoon before it is sent to the Environment Committee for public submissions.

Bishop said that the Government is determined to "cut through the thicket" of red and green tape and build a pipeline of projects to grow the economy and improve productivity.

He said that the new regime will "unlock the construction of major infrastructure projects in this country while still ensuring the protection of our environment and existing Treaty settlements."

"The Fast Track Approvals Bill is based on the previous RMA fast track regime developed by the previous government but is far more extensive in its scope and will be far more effective."

Jones said the underlying philosophy of the change was to move from “cancel economics to can-do economics”.

"For too long New Zealanders have had to wait years, even decades, before crucial projects in their regions are approved and consented, and the benefits flow to communities.

"Our new fast-track regime starts to change this."

Projects will become eligible for fast track through one of two ways - referral by the joint decision of the Ministers of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Transport, or by being listed as a project in Schedule 2A of the bill.

Once it has been referred into the fast-track process, it will be considered by an expert panel who will apply relevant consent and permit conditions with a maximum of six months to make the decision.

The project will then be sent back to joint Ministers to either approve the project with conditions or decline the project. Ministers will also be able to refer a project back to a panel if they determine the conditions recommended are too onerous.

Projects listed in Schedule 2A of the bill will be automatically referred into the fast track process, and projects listed in Schedule 2B will be required to be taken into account if and when a project comes before them for referral.

Currently, no projects are listed in either Schedule 2A or 2B.

A Fast Track Advisory Group will be established in coming weeks to advise Ministers on what projects should be included in legislation.

Cabinet will decide on the projects, which will be inserted into the schedules of the Bill through the select committee process.

Projects able to be fast tracked under the new regime include:

The bill will also include a "more efficient" mechanism for Public Works Act 1981 processes, which gives the Crown power to acquire land from private landowners for public works.

Green Party co-leader James Shaw described the Bill as "one of the most significant assaults on the environment" undertaken by any government in his lifetime.

"Ministers are handing themselves extraordinary powers to approve projects that could include new coal mines, mining on parts of our precious conservation estate, and the destruction of the seabed."

He said the Green Party understands that projects rejected by the Environment Court could be included in the fast-track process, and expresses concern that the list of projects may not be released until after Select Committee hearings.

"It is hard to see this as anything other than a shadowy, anti-democratic way of fast-tracking projects that will increase climate pollution and trash our environment.

"There is serious concern that the government is basically putting the future of our natural world at the mercy of party donors and powerful industry lobbyists."

Shaw said that "rather than relying purely on the discretion of a Minister, we must ensure that expert advice and the views of affected communities are a significant part of the decision-making process."

Any companies taking advantage of the fast-track process would be exposed to scrutiny "next time there is a change of Government," said Shaw.

This could include loss of the consent without compensation.

Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said that the Bill shows Minister's ears are "well and truly taken by lobbyists."

"This Bill hands lobbyists and Ministers the keys to our country without transparency when it comes to our resources. The greed of corporations both foreign and local could reshape New Zealand."

She said that New Zealand could become a "banana republic" where Ministers can be lobbied to make a decision and disregard public interests.

"I’m not sure when Chris Bishop or Shane Jones became environmental experts, or studied the ins and outs of ecology, climate change or health and safety, but the idea of them having final say without the input of experts and communities is frightening."

Brooking said that Labour had "appropriate legislation and processes" for fast-track consents and long-term Resource Management Act reform.

"Pitching this as a solution for red – or green – tape helps no one except lobby groups.

"It has the potential to undermine all of our environmental protections and our international standing as a country that has proper processes for investment decisions."