9. Question No. 9—EnvironmentRACHEL BROOKING (Labour) to the Minister for the EnvironmentQuestion No. 9—Environment9. RACHEL BROOKING (Labour) to the Minister for the Environment: What announcements has the Government made regarding reform of the resource management system? Hon DAVID PARKER (Minister for the Environment): Thank you Mr Speaker. Today the Government released an exposure draft of core provisions of the proposed law to replace the Resource Management Act (RMA). I intend to refer this draft and the accompanying parliamentary paper that has been tabled in the House to the Environment Committee for consideration. The Natural and Built Environments Act (NBA) covers land use and environmental protection. It will be the primary replacement for the RMA which the Government promised at the election to repeal and replace. The proposed Strategic Planning Act will sit above the NBA to develop long-term regional spatial strategies. Improving our planning system is a priority for the Government. The current system takes too long costs too much has not adequately protected the environment nor sufficiently enabled development like housing. Rachel Brooking: How will the NBA protect the environment and support development? Hon DAVID PARKER: A new national planning framework will provide clear direction on how the system is implemented. Its integrated provisions will include mandatory environmental limits to avoid irreversible harm to the environment. These will include limits relating to fresh water coastal waters estuaries air soil and biodiversity. Development will be better enabled within these environmental limits. The national planning framework will for the first time include positive outcomes for both housing and infrastructure. Hon Eugenie Sage: Supplementary. SPEAKER: The Hon Eugenie Sage—I'd just say normally I would have taken the member for another one so we don't break up the continuity. Hon Eugenie Sage: My apologies. Is the Minister considering a public consultation process for developing the national planning framework which uses a board of inquiry - style process; if not why not? Hon DAVID PARKER: Those decisions have not yet been taken. In terms of the transition into the national planning framework of existing national direction through national planning standards and environmental standards that's largely a drafting exercise. I also think that it's essential that the pro-infrastructure - and housing parts of the national planning framework be drafted before the new system comes into effect. The process that will be used for consideration of those is not decided yet. My own view is that we need to have more flexibility for the decision-making bodies to adopt processes that are proportionate to the issues that are before them rather than the more complex processes which are always required currently. Rachel Brooking: How will the new resource management system be more efficient and effective? Hon DAVID PARKER: While the RMA is not the sole cause of the housing crisis planning rules are partly to blame. We are creating a system that will be less complex take less time to administer and therefore will be easier for participants to navigate. The exposure draft proposes that the more than 100 existing plans be consolidated to around 14. The Strategic Planning Act would sit above the NBA to develop long-term regional spatial strategies to integrate decisions under the land transport management local government and climate change response Acts. NBA plans will help implement them. The intention is for communities to work together to produce one NBA plan for each region and the resultant system will be easier and more cost-effective for users to use. Rachel Brooking: What are the next steps in the process of reforming the RMA? Hon DAVID PARKER: This evening I'll seek leave of the House to refer the parliamentary paper that's been tabled and an exposure draft of the core parts of the bill to the Environment Committee for a select committee inquiry. This three-month inquiry is intended to test and improve the contents of these core parts of the bill before it goes into the formal parliamentary process. I'm advised this select committee process into an exposure draft is the first of its kind enabled by recent changes to the Standing Orders and it provides an open process for the public and the wider Parliament to have an early say on this key legislation. During the period of the inquiry the Government will continue to work on other elements of the NBA not included in the exposure draft along with the Strategic Planning Act. There will then be a second and full select committee process when both bills are introduced to Parliament next year.