Govt planning halt 'riding roughshod' over communities

A Dunedin city councillor says her blood "runs cold" at the government’s decision to halt council planning work ahead of an overhaul of resource management laws.

However, some elected representatives across Otago are welcoming the changes and Dunedin’s mayor says he sees an opportunity.

Changes to council planning were announced yesterday at a Local Government New Zealand conference by the Minister Responsible for Resource Management Act (RMA) reform, Chris Bishop.

The government would stop "unnecessary" plan changes — suspending requirements for councils to review plans or implement national planning standards.

They would be unable to notify new plan or policy statements or changes to them unless they met certain exemption criteria.

Mr Bishop said councils were spending too much time on plan processes which would likely be incomplete or "largely wasted" under the government’s RMA replacement — expected to be in place by 2027.

Dunedin city councillor Sophie Barker said she was concerned the government was "riding roughshod" over the wishes of local communities.

"This is a government that preached localism as important, then looks to be taking our planning decisions out of our hands, and that of our communities.

"When I see rhetoric like ... Mr Bishop’s speech my blood does run cold."

Cr Lee Vandervis said the RMA changes would save council time and money and allow staff to be involved in more productive local work.

"The less work we have to do for central government and [Otago Regional Council] compliance, the more we can concentrate on making Dunedin resilient and self-sufficient."

Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich viewed the situation as an opportunity.

"This could be the ideal time to drive higher growth in Dunedin based on lower costs, more jobs and higher income," he said.

Cr Steve Walker said the "Americanisation of New Zealand politics by this coalition government is leading us to a place most reasonable New Zealanders don’t want to go".

Cr Carmen Houlahan said most people at the conference "aren’t that impressed" with the "massive" changes planned for local government.

Also at the conference was Clutha District Mayor Bryan Cadogan, who said local government delegates were "underwhelmed" by Mr Bishop’s speech.

"We’re getting used to the contempt shown by this government now, as this is the second year we’ve had much the same approach from ministers.

"I think one person may accidentally have clapped."

Mr Cadogan said it brought more "unrealistic pressure" on councils.

"It’s pretty hard going when you’re all, as councils, faced with mounting costs, huge rate rises and then there’s strong conversation around rates capping."

Otago regional councillor Michael Laws described local government as a "make-work scheme".

"It’s a whole series of people with vision statements, policy and plans and agendas that really just create work for themselves ... and impede in the most negative way on the daily lives of us all."

The government’s response to local and regional council bureaucrats and "ineffectual governors" was deserved, he said.

Cr Laws said his reading of Mr Bishop’s speech was all the regional council’s work under way on plans and policy statements would have to stop and this would include the regional policy statement in mediation.

There would be a full briefing at the council today on the situation, he said.

Yesterday, the Otago Daily Times asked councils across the South what they made of the announcement.

Most said it was too early to make a detailed comment on the announcement and they would take time to consider how it would affect their operations.

Several were unable respond to the ODT’s questions before deadline.

— Additional reporting APL staff