08 June 2001
Additional Costs From Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Act Should Be No Surprise
There should be no surprises that implementation of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Act is imposing new demands on resource
users. This was the key message Federated Farmers Auckland Provincial President Colin Bull presented today to the Local
Government and Environment Select Committee considering the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Amendment.
Federated Farmers opposed the original Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Act because it imposed another layer of bureaucracy,
duplicated the provisions of the Resource Management Act and would lead to increased costs on the Hauraki catchment.
"Our concerns have been totally vindicated," said Mr Bull. " The Act has introduced a whole new series of hurdles for
consent applicants to clear. Because the RMA and the Marine Park Bill overlap it is inevitable that there will be on
going uncertainty and difficulties."
In its submission on the amendment Bill the federation supported the current amendment but went on to call for a total
repeal of the Act. The federation urged the select committee to request an analysis to be undertaken to see what
additional environmental gain has been achieved as a result of the Marine Park Bill if any and this to be considered
against the additional costs imposed.
ENDS