Masterton RMA work wins praise

Minister for the Environment Amy Adams has praised Masterton District Council for its "exceptional resource consent processing performance".

The Masterton District Council has been praised by the Minister for the Environment Amy Adams for its "exceptional resource consent processing performance" following the Resource Management Act (RMA) survey report for 2012/13.

Ms Adams has written to Masterton Mayor Lyn Patterson following the biennial review, congratulating the council for its excellent performance in processing all resource consents within statutory time frames and reserved special praise for the work of the planning staff.

Mrs Patterson said she was delighted the council's work in that area over the past two years had been recognised by central Government.

"Our aim is always to provide the highest levels of service possible to our residents, whilst keeping the cost to ratepayers at an affordable level," Mrs Patterson said.

Council chief executive Wes ten Hove said Masterton had a small planning team compared with other councils of a similar size.

"This achievement proves that the quality of their work is right up there with the very best in New Zealand.

"The Wairarapa Combined District Plan, which provides the guidance for the three councils, has also proved very beneficial in this regard.

"Resource consent processing is one of our key areas of work and we are proud to have achieved a 100 per cent result and to receive recognition from the minster for doing so," Mr ten Hove said.