The red tape that has stifled the Whitianga canal sub-division is having the same affect on the New Zealand roading
network at a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars a year, Road Transport Forum NZ chief executive Tony Friedlander
said today.
“The Resource Management Act process has delayed the sub-division in the same way it consistently holds up desperately
needed roading projects, despite the huge benefits they would bring to both local and national economies,” said Mr
Friedlander.
“The Auckland motorway network is a classic example. Often the same matters are re-litigated time and time again, with
groups who are against development exploiting the system by using stalling tactics. All this does is delay the process,
sometimes for up to five years, at a huge cost to the economy.”
“The RMA process needs streamlining and the opportunity for repeated hearings on the same subjects eliminated,” said Mr
Friedlander.
“The Environment Court also needs far more resources to allow it to speed up the hearing of reasonable concerns. I see
in the Whitianga example that an appeal delayed the project for 18 months and was then thrown out. This type of example
costs millions and happens regularly with roading projects.”
He said if more Judges were available to the Environment Court, the time wasters could be dealt with swiftly, so the
real issues could be covered quickly and projects could get started.
“Road users in Auckland and north of Wellington are sick and tired of waiting in traffic jams, while businesses depend
on an efficient roading network,” said Mr Friedlander.
“I only hope this debacle in Whitianga will now make the policy-makers realise how desperately change is needed.”
ENDS