An "improvement but still flawed" is Local Government New Zealand's reaction to details released yesterday on the discount councils will have to give for late processing of resource consents.
The new regulations "incentivise" prompt processing of resource consents and were a response to the consistent deterioration in time frames over the past 10 years, Environment Minister Nick Smith said.
The regulations were provided for in the 2009 Resource Management (Simplifying and Streamlining) Amendment Act.
Under the regulations, councils exceeding time frames must apply a discount of 1% per working day, to a maximum of 50%.
"These regulations will provide welcome support to businesses and households and add strength to other government measures to stimulate the economy," Dr Smith said.
Local Government New Zealand national council member and Otago Regional Council chairman Stephen Cairns said discounts on delays for resource consents added cost to councils, and ultimately ratepayers.
Discounts on contentious multiple-consent projects such as hydro-electricity schemes could easily run into six figures.
However, it was less than the "whopping" 25% at five days late that was originally proposed, he said.
