Consultation
71. The first consultation round through August 2005 followed the release of a discussion paper (EDC min (05) 16/7 paragraph 3 refers). This round consisted of five nationwide seminars and had 177 organisations represented. There were 53 submissions.
72. Further consultation has occurred following the release of the position paper in October 2006 (CBC (06) 246 refers). This included a forum jointly hosted by the NZUAG and LGNZ. As the basis for the further discussion on the policy framework the MED presented a paper "Proposals for the Management of Utilities in the Transportation Corridor" to which feedback was invited. There were over 150 participants.
73. Feedback came from 40 parties: 19 District Councils, four City Councils, Auckland Territorial Authorities (as one group); Auckland Regional Transport Authority, Transit NZ, Ontrack; Telstra, Telecom, four Lines companies (Vector, Powerco, Orion, and Delta Services for Aurora Energy); NZUAG, LGNZ, two industry groups (Electrical Engineers Association, Electricity Networks Association); and three private individuals. There were no submissions from water companies.
74. In addition, further consultation has occurred with the Automobile Association, specifically on roadside hazard consideration.
75. With the request from LGNZ to delay the Cabinet paper, further engagement with the code of practice working group (representatives from Transit, NZUAG, Vector, Telecom, Auckland Territorial Authorities, consultancy MWH and LGNZ (in particular)) in the intervening period has occurred.
76. The paper has implications for the Ministry of Economic Development (MED), Ministry of Transport, Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) and Treasury. The views of these departments have been sought and considered in this paper. The Ministry for the Environment was informed as there are links with their work on the Proposed National Environmental Standards for Telecommunications Facilities.
Fiscal Implications
77. The proposal to introduce a new administrative function for approving or creating codes by the Minister for Economic Development in consultation with the Minister of Transport and the Minister of Local Government has an estimated annual cost of $0.215 million (0.5 FTE for Ministry of Economic Development, 0.25 FTE for Ministry of Transport and 0.25 FTE for the Department of Internal Affairs, plus industry consultation costs). With reprioritisation these costs would be met from baselines.
78. The proposal to change the cost-share provision in the Telecommunications Act will mean some additional costs to Transit on roads planned for re-alignment that carry telecommunications assets. Relocation costs are estimated to be around $1 – 2 million per year but these costs depend on where Transit has plans for re-alignment and where telecommunications companies have their assets.
Human Rights
79. There are no human rights implications.
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