For immediate release 17 March 2001

Local Government New Zealand today launched four projects that are going to make the jobs of planning and using the Resource Management Act a lot easier.

John Hutchings, Strategy Leader, Environment and Infrastructure, said at the New Zealand Planning Institute Conference in Tauranga today that these projects turn a normally ‘challenging’ activity into a ‘brilliant’ one by making available a number of easily accessible tools for planners.

The projects have been launched using a neon green card that highlights the simplicity of accessing the tools and each has a direct bearing on what it is that planners and planning actually does eg
* ‘getting effective results from enforcement procedures’ – this is about how to penalise people effectively for transgressions under the Resource Management Act
* ‘hot tips for great strategic plans’ – a ‘how to’ guide for strategic planning that gives practical examples on what works and what doesn’t
* ‘everything you ever needed to know about how to process a resource consent’. This ‘tool’ allows councils to follow a step-by-step guide that is based on all the best practice already being seen throughout New Zealand
* ‘a free lunch or a fair deal?’ – all about whether and how and what people should pay for the privilege of gaining resource consent under the RMA. This is one of those subjects that many people find extremely boring but using this tool you will find a ‘bright’ new perspective.

All these tools can be accesses via the Local Government New Zealand or Ministry for the Environment websites:
www.lgnz.co.nz (‘what’s new’)
www.mfe.govt.nz (‘what’s new’)
Mr Hutchings acknowledged the assistance of Ministry for the Environment in both their contributions to funding some of the projects via the Sustainable Management Fund and with staff input.

CONTACT

John Hutchings 025 240 6788

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