Councils slammed for late resource consents

Environment Minister Nick Smith has slammed some local councils for a high number of late resource consents and says proposed law changes need to go further.

Dr Smith will today present the two-yearly report on local authorities' administration of the Resource Management Act to Parliament's local government and environment select committee.

"This report tells a sorry story of delay, frustration and unnecessary costs for more than 16,000 homeowners, businesses and farmers whose consents last year were not processed within the legal timeframe," Dr Smith said.

"This problem has been ignored and got progressively worse over the past decade increasing from 18 per cent to 31 per cent, despite a nine-fold increase from 3 per cent to 27 per cent in consents where councils granted themselves a 20-day extension."

The select committee is considering a bill amending the RMA which Dr Smith said would simplify consent processes and give councils incentives to process applications faster.

"The two-yearly report shows we need to strengthen these proposals to ensure better performance," Dr Smith said.

He was writing to eight councils which were breaching requirements more than they were meeting them.

In a table provided showing different councils performances Environment Canterbury recorded only 29 per cent of resource consent applications processed on time in 2007-08 - down from 72 per cent in 2005-06.

Auckland City Council did not have a good record, processing only 45 per cent on time down from 52 per cent.

Whakatane District Council also processed 45 per cent on time (down from 89 per cent), Carterton District Council 42 per cent (88 per cent), Waimate District Council 41 per cent (80 per cent), Far North District Council 37 per cent (51 per cent), Manukau City Council 35 per cent (33 per cent), Westland District Council and 30 per cent (55 per cent). Rangitikei District Council failed to provide latest figures.

Dr Smith praised councils that had improved performance.

- NZPA