Critics fear Government is thinking too big

By KEVIN TAYLOR

Environmental and community groups say the Government is brewing "Think Big 2" in its review of the Resource Management Act.

They are worried the act will be changed to give big developments precedence over the environment and local communities.

Thirteen groups have written a letter to Prime Minister Helen Clark protesting that the review is far more than the fine-tuning promised by the Government.

The Green Party also waded in yesterday, saying the Government should "come clean" and reveal its plans.

Forest and Bird conservation manager Kevin Hackwell said a national interest clause amending the act's principles and purposes was "hardly fine-tuning".

Such a clause amounted to "Think Big 2".

He was referring to the National Development Act, which drove Think Big infrastructure projects during the National Government era under Sir Robert Muldoon.

The letter from the groups, which included Forest and Bird, said they were alarmed that the Government was planning to reduce public participation and water down environmental safeguards.

They said the present construction boom suggested the act was not slowing the economy, and noted that of 49,000 consent applications made last year, fewer than 300 were declined.

Other organisations that signed the letter included the Outdoor Recreation Associations of New Zealand, Federated Mountain Clubs, Ecologic Foundation, Greenpeace, Environmental Defence Society, National Council of Women and various recreational hunting and fishing groups.

Associate Environment Minister David Benson-Pope rejected the group's claims as "unnecessarily alarmist".

Mr Hackwell was talking nonsense when he claimed the Government was reintroducing Think Big-era development law, said Mr Benson-Pope.

"We are not going down the path of the National Development Act."

He said the review would not compromise the act's environmental protection and community consultation provisions.

"The other mistake which they are making is they are equating the interests of big business with the expression of national interest - and I think they are quite different things."

Greens co-leader Rod Donald said Labour should have the courage of its convictions and resist pressure from the "anti-environment National Party and its big-business friends".

The Government should tell the public of its plans in the light of officials telling industry representatives the act would be fundamentally changed.

"No amount of soft-soaping from David Benson-Pope can disguise the fact that the Environment and Economic Development Ministries are contemplating more than mere tinkering."

The RMA has been criticised for years - particularly by business - for delaying major projects.

There was renewed concern in March when state-owned Meridian Energy partly blamed the act for its decision to axe the $1.2 billion Aqua power project on the Waitaki River.

Last weekend, the National Party outlined plans to substantially amend the law.


Looking for benefits

* The Government may insert a "national interest" clause in the Resource Management Act to give extra weight to projects with national benefits.

* Thirteen environmental and community groups warn that the move would return New Zealand to the days of "Think Big", with projects being rammed through.

* A bill amending the RMA is due to be tabled in Parliament within months.