More Resources For Environment Court Is An Encouraging Step

The Government decision to provide the Environment Court with an additional judge and extra funding is an encouraging step in the right direction, Road Transport Forum NZ chief executive Tony Friedlander said today.

“The Court’s lack of resources over the years has caused many of the country’s much needed roading projects to be delayed as they wait for Court approval.”

“There are a huge number of projects that desperately need approval to get started, but often must wait for years before they even reach the Court.”

Mr Friedlander said that while this decision gave the Court more resources, the entire RMA process needed to be streamlined. “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.”

Mr Friedlander said the ability to re-litigate an issue that has already been addressed must be eliminated.

“These issues all need to be dealt with quickly so roading projects such as the Auckland motorway network can be urgently completed. While a lot more needs to be done, we welcome this Government decision as a good start.”

ENDS

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