Further streamlining of the resource management regime
and a new one-off process for preparing the Auckland Unitary Plan
were introduced in Parliament yesterday as part of the
Resource Management Reform Bill.
The omnibus Bill amends the Resource Management Act 1991
(RMA), the Local Government (Auckland Transitional Provisions) Act
2010 and the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act
1987.
Key changes
Provisions in the Bill include:
- the new process for preparing Auckland's first Unitary Plan
(referred to in the Bill as the "Auckland combined
plan"), which includes submissions to an independent hearing
panel coupled with limited appeal rights
- streamlining the RMA to introduce a 6-month consenting
timeframe for medium-sized projects, and to provide for direct
referral of regional projects (based on an investment threshold to
be established in regulations).
