9. Infrastructure—Resource Management Act ReformsJAMI-LEE ROSS (National—Botany) to the Minister for the EnvironmentInfrastructure—Resource Management Act Reforms9. JAMI-LEE ROSS (National—Botany) to the Minister for the Environment: Are the Government's resource management reforms helping deliver timely consenting decisions on the infrastructure New Zealand needs to support a growing economy?Hon Dr NICK SMITH (Minister for the Environment): An important change that National made in our first phase of Resource Management Act (RMA) reforms is a streamlined board of inquiry process for nationally significant projects. This provides a one-step hearings process and a legal requirement for decisions to be made within 9 months. This has enabled major projects like the $630 million Kapiti Expressway and the $1.4 billion Waterview Connection to be consented in a timely way. Both projects which are due for opening in the next month are a product of the successful reform.Jami-Lee Ross: What further infrastructure projects are being considered for the streamlined board of inquiry process introduced by the Government?Hon Dr NICK SMITH: Today I have announced that the $700 million Northern Corridor Improvements project on State Highways 1 and 18 in Albany is nationally significant and is to be referred to a board of inquiry chaired by Environment Court judge Melanie Harland. I have also jointly determined with the conservation Minister Maggie Barry that the $1.5 billion East-West Link project between Onehunga and Mount Wellington will be referred to a board of inquiry to be chaired by retired High Court judge the Hon John Priestley. These boards of inquiry will ensure a robust process and a fair say for communities but also a timely decision which is so important for Auckland with its transport issues.Eugenie Sage: Does he think the RMA is supporting 21st century economic development when it still allows new climate-polluting coalmines as if we were in the 1900s?Hon Dr NICK SMITH: I am very proud of this Government's record with the emissions trading scheme which actually has seen emissions from the electricity sector drop significantly. Actually under the previous Government of which the Greens were part we saw an increase in thermal emissions from the electricity sector. We came into Government at 65 percent and it is now up to 80 percent. I understand from the Minister of Energy and Resources that we are on target to get to 90 percent renewable by 2025.David Seymour: Does the Minister know what the Prime Minister had in mind when he challenged the Labour Party to support further resource management legislation reforms earlier today in question time?Hon Dr NICK SMITH: The Parliament has the major second phase RMA reform bill before it. It will enable us to build more houses it will enable us to create more jobs and it will enable us to address transport issues. That is why I get so frustrated with members opposite who want solutions on those problems but will oppose the very measures that will address them.Hon David Parker: Given that more houses were built during the mid-2000s than are being built now how can he blame the RMA for that decline given the RMA was in force back then—as it is now—and that he has already spent 8 long years blaming everyone else to avoid taking responsibility for the housing crisis that National has caused?Hon Dr NICK SMITH: That member should take responsibility for the very specific changes that Labour made to the RMA because in the 2002 amendments it determined that regional policy statements and—it is noteworthy—the tight metropolitan urban limit actually took dominance over housing. That actually for the Productivity Commission was at the core of Auckland's problems. [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! Mr Twyford.Eugenie Sage: What does the Minister say to the people of Waimakariri who are worried that they will not be able to have a say about a big new quarry in their neighbourhood because National changed the RMA so that they do not have to be consulted?Hon Dr NICK SMITH: The ultimate decision about what activities are permitted in a district such as a quarry rests with councils. But help is on the way in that the new RMA reform bill provides for standardised plans so that we can get a greater degree of consistency. But let me make no bones about it: this Government's ambition with the RMA is to support jobs to support new houses and to support growth because at the moment the RMA is preventing New Zealand from being able to make progress on those fronts.Eugenie Sage: When his current controversial changes to the RMA further reduce the public's ability to have a say in decisions that they care about are his reforms not all about tilting the Act in favour of development and against communities and the environment?Hon Dr NICK SMITH: Yes the RMA reform bill is about tilting in favour of more houses and it is true that members of the Greens and the Labour Party favour consultation and appeals over people having roofs over their heads.