2. Background
In November 2004, the Government announced a package of proposals to improve the RMA and how it operates in practice.
The proposals will be implemented by, amongst other things, greater national direction and involvement in local decision making, through national policy statements (NPSs) and national environmental standards (NESs).
In deciding the priority for the development of NPSs and NESs, the Government has taken note of the Growth and Innovation Advisory Board's Business-Government Leaders Forum in October 2002 (where infrastructure was identified as a significant business concern), and the subsequent assessment of the quality of New Zealand's infrastructure commissioned by the Ministry for Economic Development in 2003.13
That latter assessment highlighted a number of national and local infrastructure concerns, some of which were associated with the RMA One of these concerns related to the potential of the RMA to inhibit future investment in electricity transmission.
In December 2004, Cabinet noted that electricity transmission had been identified by preliminary analysis as the top priority in terms of warranting investigation into potential national policy intervention on network infrastructure under the RMA.14 Work on national guidance in relation to other subjects is also being considered.
Cabinet also confirmed a process that involved establishment of an electricity transmission reference group to provide advice on:
- what an NPS under the Resource Management Act (RMA) on electricity transmission could (and could not) cover;
- whether an NPS would be likely to be beneficial in terms of addressing issues associated with managing electricity transmission and its effects on the environment,15 and
- what, if any, NESs might complement or substitute for any NPS.
This report sets out that advice and the Reference Group's reasons for providing that advice. It does so, conscious of the Government's stated policy "to enhance infrastructure's net contribution to economic growth and societal well-being, while reducing the incidence and severity of service failures and adverse effects on the environment"
A separate reference group is considering the same questions as those set out above in respect of electricity generation. A separate report will be released on that issue.
It is important to record at the outset that the Reference Group process has not been about any specific transmission project. The process has been about, and will continue to focus on, the policy and regulatory environment that exists for activities associated with transmission - wherever they occur, and whether they relate to new lines, or the operation, upgrading, maintenance or repair of existing lines.
It is also important to note that the proposals set out in this report are preliminary only. As noted above, they will be confirmed following public comment. In addition, if the Government does decide to proceed with an NPS and/or an NES, it will need to follow the process set out in the RMA, including giving the public appropriate opportunity to participate. The process to be followed is depicted in Figure 1, below.
Figure 1: Policy Process for Development of National Guidance on Electricity Transmission and the RMA
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