9. Question No. 9—EnvironmentDr DUNCAN WEBB (Labour—Christchurch Central) to the Minister for the EnvironmentQuestion No. 9—Environment9. Dr DUNCAN WEBB (Labour—Christchurch Central) to the Minister for the Environment: What announcements has the Government made regarding reform of the Resource Management Act 1991?Hon DAVID PARKER (Minister for the Environment): Yesterday the Government published the most comprehensive review of the resource management system since the Resource Management Act (RMA) was passed in 1991. The independent review was chaired by a former Court of Appeal judge Tony Randerson QC and it proposes that the RMA be repealed and replaced with two main Acts. We agree with the panel that this reform is needed. The RMA has doubled in size from its original length. It's become too costly takes too long and has not adequately protected the environment. If we're fortunate enough to be re-elected we're committed to implementing many of the recommendations in the report.Dr Duncan Webb: What does the review panel propose should replace the RMA?Hon DAVID PARKER: The main recommendation is the replacement of the existing RMA with two pieces of legislation—a natural and built environments Act (NBEA) and a strategic planning Act. The proposed natural and built environments Act would address urban issues like housing and enhancing the quality of natural environments to achieve better outcomes for present and future generations. The proposed strategic planning Act would set long-term strategic goals and help integrate legislative functions across the resource management system including the proposed NBEA the Local Government Act the Land Transport Management Act and the Climate Change Response Act. This will ensure better planning including for infrastructure and housing investment. The panel also recommends greater use of natural direction by the environment Minister a more streamlined process for council plan making and more efficient resource consent processes.Dr Duncan Webb: What changes are proposed around district plans?Hon DAVID PARKER: The panel proposes that there be a single plan for each region encompassing rules for each district in that region. This would reduce the number of RMA plans from over 100 to 14. The report recommends alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to resolve boundary disputes such as the heightened proximity of adjacent buildings. Dr Duncan Webb: What is recommended to improve environmental outcomes?Hon DAVID PARKER: A common criticism of the existing RMA is that it has not dealt well with cumulative effects which have worsened since the RMA was enacted especially in water and climate change. To remedy this the report recommends a change in focus from effects to outcomes and those outcomes will be underpinned by environmental bottom lines set out in national direction. Dr Duncan Webb: How does this plan compare with other plans to reform the RMA?Hon DAVID PARKER: This Government is comprehensively redesigning the resource management system to deliver better outcomes for the environment and housing to help people and the economy as well as protect the environment. The review and recommendations are wide-ranging and I would like to thank the panel members for their constructive and dedicated work in providing solutions for the next Government to implement. I understand the other side of the House also wishes to repeal the RMA and put out a press release mistakenly claiming this proposed reform—DEPUTY SPEAKER: I just bring to the attention of the member the Speaker's ruling that I referred to before and there is another Speaker's ruling that says it's unreasonable to use questions from the governing party to attack the Opposition.Hon DAVID PARKER: Thank you Madam Speaker. Whoever is the next Government they will have the opportunity to implement this review inside three years compared with nothing done over the last nine by the prior Government.