What is the Fast-Track Bill?
It is a bill that aims to speed up the approval of projects, and reduce the cost of consenting. An applicant, who for example, would like to open a coal mine on conservation land, would go through one process to get approval for a project, rather than several separate processes. Nationally or regionally important projects such as housing developments, mining, roads, energy generation, and aquaculture projects are ones that have been cited as likely to benefit. The new process proposes that an expert panel will make recommendations to ministers, but that the ministers only will have the ultimate say. Projects could side-step approval processes under the RMA, and nine other sets of laws and regulations such as wildlife, conservation, fishery and heritage acts.
There would be three ministers with decision-making powers. Shane Jones (minister for regional development), Chris Bishop (minister for infrastructure), and Simeon Brown (minister for transport). In some cases a fourth minister, National’s Tama Potaka, will be involved as the Minister of Conservation. This would be when an activity prohibited under the Wildlife Act is applied for. This good RNZ article sums up the powers of the three ministers well, and conservation areas that projects could be approved in.
Ministers can recommend projects to be considered under the fast-track process; they can be involved in choosing panelists; they can challenge the recommendations of the panel, and suggest the panel reconsiders conditions it has recommended if the ministers think they are too onerous. Ministers have the final say on whether projects are approved or declined.
Why is POW opposed to the Fast-Track bill?
- The bill is not evidence based.
- The bill is not democratic.
- It puts conservation land at risk.
- It could result in projects that cause more climate, air, and water pollution such as: coal mines, waste incineration plants, highways, large irrigation dams and more.
An open letter from ten different scientific groups representing thousands of scientists say the approvals bill, along with other proposed changes, weaken environmental protection and call for evidence-based policy making. The legislation limits who can have a say. Local communities can’t have a say, organisations like POW, who represent the outdoor community won’t be able to have a say either. Advocacy groups, and the general public won’t be able to make submissions on individual projects, even projects on conservation land.
Jones has made it clear he wants mining: “If there is a mineral, if there is a mining opportunity and it’s impeded by a blind frog, goodbye, Freddie,” he said in parliament. “This bill is to provide a fast-track decision-making process that facilitates the delivery of infrastructure and development projects with significant regional and national benefits. Regions need to benefit from their resource endowments. Gone are the days of the multicoloured skink, the kiwi, many other species that have been weaponised to deny regional New Zealand communities their right…”
Yep he actually said that.
