Review of the Provision for the National Benefits of Infrastructure
[ Last Updated 19 January 2006 ]
The Ministry commissioned Beca Carter Hollings & Ferner Ltd to undertake a Stocktake and Analysis of Regional and District Plans and Policy Statements. The study examined all district and regional plans and policy statements that have been prepared under the RMA (71 district plans, 64 regional plans, 16 regional policy statements and 5 unitary authority plans), with the objective of determining the extent to which existing planning documents have regard for the national benefits of network infrastructure. From the analysis, some key trends were identified:
- The national benefits of infrastructure are not consistently provided for;
- Benefits at a local and regional level are more commonly noted than that at a national level;
- Network infrastructure is often considered generically;
- Existing planning documents typically provide for network infrastructure in separate chapters;
- Network infrastructure that is not included within the s166 Resource Management Act 1991 definition is often provided for by generic rules with a discretionary activity status;
- The essential nature of network infrastructure is recognised in existing planning documents;
- There is a high degree of consistency in the general approach of existing planning documents; however, the detail of the planning documents differs in terms of emphasis and approach to regulation; and,
- Avoiding, remedying and mitigating any adverse effects of network infrastructure is a key concern within existing planning documents.
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