By NAOMI LARKIN
More than 3100 cases are before the Environment Court, many of them already delayed for over a year.
A report from Courts Minister Matt Robson shows that in places like Timaru and Oamaru no cases were heard in the past year.
In Christchurch, 402 cases are pending, 242 of which were lodged a year or more ago. Dunedin has 154 cases, 128 of which lodged during the same period.
The backlog of cases in Whangarei and the Far North is 157, and in Thames and Waihi it is 96.
Mr Robson, who released the figures in response to a parliamentary question from Northland-based Act MP Muriel Newman, said that in reality only some of the cases were ready to proceed.
"The court utilises case management processes to isolate cases that are 'ready' in order to minimise waiting times," he said.
"All appeals are heard in turn according to date of lodging unless circumstances warrant otherwise."
But Dr Newman said yesterday that the delays were unacceptable.
"It's a Government failure which costs individual New Zealanders.
"It's the loss of productivity, the loss of jobs, the holding costs, interest rates and ongoing legal costs."
Dr Newman said she asked about the delays after being approached by Whangarei people who were "very distressed" at the length of time they were having to wait.
Auckland barrister Russell Bartlett, who specialises in environment law, said it was well known that the court was under-resourced.
A delay of a year had become standard but in some cases people were waiting two and three years for their appeals to be heard, he said.
The local government and environment select committee had previously heard submissions from people facing delays but nothing had been done.
"There is certainly no sign of any response or any extra resources."
But local authorities had to take some of the blame for the delays as they often took a long time to sort out their district plans, Mr Bartlett said.
"If there are objections and appeals the vendor can get tired of waiting and sells to somebody else or that project doesn't come to fruition."
Under the Resource Management Act 1991, councils must draw up district plans. These can be lengthy and complicated documents outlining the councils' intentions for development and protecting the environment.
Developers and conservationists sometimes appeal against district plans and councils can even appeal against one another.
People often end up in the Environment Court when they appeal against decisions handed down by councils on environmental issues or development projects.
Meanwhile, the Environment Court has a new principal judge. Judge Joan Allin takes over from Judge David Sheppard. She will be based in Wellington but preside at sittings throughout the country.
3100 cases choke up Environment Court
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