Blue Jackie: Infrastructure Bill — Second Reading 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Blue Jackie: Infrastructure Bill — Second Reading 
[Sitting date: 24 March 2010. Volume:661;Page:9810. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Dr JACKIE BLUE (National) 
: 
 I am pleased to speak to the second reading of the Infrastructure Bill. I would like to put some context around this bill and why the Government has seen the need to bring it to the House in the first place. 
This bill follows on from a discussion paper on the state of New Zealand’s infrastructure which was released last year. It was incorporated into the first national infrastructure plan which was released this month. It was abundantly clear from the stocktake of key infrastructure issues and challenges last year that the Government had to get New Zealand infrastructure right which means improving the quality of our roads ensuring our electricity grid is up to speed and increasing our broadband speed. The plan which has a 20-year horizon is part of a range of work aimed at improving the Government’s planning decision making and management of infrastructure in order to maximise economic benefits. To achieve this the Government is investing almost twice as much over the next few years than was planned by the previous Government. The reality is that the Government is spending over $6 billion per year on physical assets and holds approximately $110 billion worth of such assets. 
The plan will also support thousands of jobs. This will contribute to a stronger economy that over time will mean better wages and higher living standards for New Zealand families. This plan like any plan will only succeed as long as it can be implemented. The words must result in action and that is why the bill is before the House today. This bill is an omnibus bill that will make substantive amendments to a number of Acts and repeal one Act. At the Committee of the whole House stage this bill will be divided into two bills: the Utilities Access Bill and the Infrastructure Bill. 
This bill is about maximising economic growth by developing critical infrastructure. It removes the unnecessary barriers to infrastructure development and improves the consistency between regulations. It is also part of our commitment to review regulation and remove red tape. The bill is in four parts. Parts 1 and 2 improve arrangements for managing access by utility operators such as electricity gas telecommunications water and waste water to transport corridors. It was apparent during the submission process that there were a number of inconsistencies or gaps in legislation and also in industry practice. We heard of inefficiencies uncertainties and disputes leading to associated higher costs and delays. 
Part 1 will clarify and improve the arrangements for managing access by utility operators to various transport corridors such as roads railways and motorways. Most important Part 1 establishes a framework for a national code of practice governing how utility operators and corridor managers coordinate their activities. There is no requirement to have a code enforced. However if there is no code suitable for approval and the Minister identifies a need for one he or she may make regulations in place of a code. If a code is deemed necessary and the utilities’ operators and corridor managers cannot decide what the code should be the Minister will. 
Part 3 amends the New Zealand Railways Corporation Act 1981 to remove some of the statutory restrictions that negatively affect the running of the New Zealand Railways Corporation’s business. Part 4 repeals the Affordable Housing: Enabling Territorial Authorities Act 2008 although keeping an amended prohibition on restrictive covenants affecting social housing. The repeal of this Act is on the basis of the view that the Act was counterproductive and likely to reduce the supply of affordable housing. Local authorities have also been critical that the Act was complex costly and overly prescriptive. I am sure that these parts will be hotly debated in the Committee stage. I commend this bill to the House.