Risks to business have not been reduced as a result of the Select Committee's report on the Resource Management
Amendment Bill, says Business NZ.
"It is widely recognised that development in New Zealand carries a significant and inappropriate risk premium as a
result of the RMA," Business NZ Chief Executive Simon Carlaw said. "The Select Committee's report ensures that this risk
will continue to apply.
"The Select Committee has rejected reasonable proposals which addressed a number of the problems posed by the Resource
Management Act. Proposals to use independent commissioners, to allow the private sector to handle consent applications,
to tighten up the definition of "environment" and "amenity values" and to limit the notifications required for resource
consents to those actually affected by the development have all been rejected.
"The variations between regions and between applications and even between assessors have produced a situation where
business cannot know in advance what will be required or how long an application will take or how much it will cost. In
addition, there are many ways that the process can be subverted by those who have their own agendas.
"All this leads to increased uncertainty over the security of property rights and the unnecessary destruction of capital
and opportunities, with the cost of this borne by all New Zealanders in lost development and lost jobs," Mr Carlaw said.
Ends