9. Question No. 9—RMA ReformLAN PHAM (Green) to the Minister responsible for RMA ReformQuestion No. 9—RMA Reform9. LAN PHAM (Green) to the Minister responsible for RMA Reform: Does he agree with the Minister who responded on behalf of the Minister responsible for RMA Reform that there is no licence to desecrate the taiao in this process" and "within the Fast-track Approvals Bill you see various protections for the taiao"?Hon CHRIS BISHOP (Minister responsible for RMA Reform): Yes and yes.Lan Pham: What precisely are those protections for the taiao when water conservation orders which are the highest possible protection used to recognise the outstanding value of water bodies can be overridden through his Fast-track Approvals Bill?Hon CHRIS BISHOP: There's many. At the expert panel stage of the process conditions will be set to protect the environment. As the bill is currently drafted in deciding whether a project is eligible to be referred to a panel Ministers may consider whether the project will address significant environmental issues. Ministers may decline an application if Ministers consider the project may have significant adverse effects on the environment. Applications will include an assessment of environmental effects with an assessment against relevant national direction regional and district planning documents. When making decisions on referring projects to an expert panel joint Ministers must seek and consider comments from other members local government and relevant Māori groups. And an expert panel is required to seek and consider comments from local government landowners and other groups listed in the bill. The member should read the bill.Lan Pham: Does he agree with the former Minister for the Environment the Hon Dr Nick Smith that "The advantage of [water conservation orders] is that any decisions made in future … on any resource plans or consents would have to be within the bounds of the protective covenant provided by the [water conservation order]."; and if so will he commit to making changes to the Fast-track Approvals Bill to ensure these longstanding environmental protections are maintained?Hon CHRIS BISHOP: The Hon Dr Nick Smith is a friend and someone who I have a lot of time and respect for. I haven't seen those full comments and I haven't seen them in their full context so it's difficult to proffer a view without that.Lan Pham: What message does he have to the Save Our Springs group from Tākaka Golden Bay who are so concerned about the invitation that he sent to Siren Gold mining company to apply for fast track that they delivered a 24000-strong petition to urge his Government to uphold the water conservation order that protects the crystal clear waters of Te Waikoropupū Springs?Hon CHRIS BISHOP: Well my message to them is the same as it is to everybody which is the characterisation of a form letter sent to hundreds of people and organisations as an invitation is wrong. It was not an invitation; it was basically a form letter to say the fast-track process is happening. And my message to them is the same as it is to everybody else which is that the bill is before the select committee. We are as a Government open to sensible improvements and amendments to the bill.Rachel Boyack: It's not sensible.Hon CHRIS BISHOP: Well you haven't even seen what the bill looks like yet so just wait and see. We're open to sensible amendments but the core of it is not going to change which is that it's got to be a fast-track process because it's too hard to do things in this country—it takes too long and costs too much. And it has to be a one-stop-shop regime because that's a core part of the regime. Of course ultimately we are building on what has come before and the Hon David Parker left us with a very good model for fast track.Lan Pham: Can he offer any assurances to the many students from Tākaka who signed the petition including 8-year-old Nico Housley who said "Te Waikoropupū Springs is a very precious spring and might be the most clear spring that you will ever see in your life. Most kids like to jump into the Tākaka River. We want to be able to do this forever."?Hon CHRIS BISHOP: It would be inappropriate to comment on the specific example the member is talking about. I'm not aware of where that project is at or may be at as part of the fast track. So it would be inappropriate to make any further comment.Hon Rachel Brooking: Will the Minister amend the Fast-track Approvals Bill—the purpose of the Fast-track Approvals Bill at clause 3—to include some mention of the environment or even sustainable management or consider ruling out anything that goes against a conservation order such as that Te Waikoropupū Springs that was accepted and gazetted by the past Labour Government?Hon CHRIS BISHOP: The bill's before the committee. My understanding is the member who asked the question is a member of the select committee so no doubt she is engaged in robust debate as part of that select committee about possible amendments and changes to the bill. It would be inappropriate for me to make any further comment while the bill is before the committee."