Draft National Planning Standards aim to make plans easier to prepare and to use
21 June 2018
NZ Government:
Plans that are easier to use and prepare under
the Resource Management Act (RMA) have taken a step closer with the
release of the first set of draft National Planning Standards.
“The aim is to make plans simpler and more efficient to prepare, and
easier to understand and comply with,”
Environment Minister David Parker said.
“Standardising plan format and definitions is long overdue. It will
reduce compliance costs, and address some of the justified criticisms by
those who find RMA plans unduly complex,” he said.
“The standards will not determine local policy matters or the
substantive content of plans, which remain the responsibilities of local
councils and communities.”
David Parker said National Planning Standards will improve how the RMA
operates and reduce costs to both councils and plan users.
“They will also improve internet access to
planning documents for the
public.”
The Ministry for the Environment will seek formal submissions on the
draft standards from the general public, councils, professionals and iwi
over a 10 week period that will include a nationwide meetings.
Once public consultations are complete, the final standards will be
approved in April 2019.
“To implement the standards councils will have to redraft their plans.
We are proposing a five year implementation period for most plans and a
seven year period for councils that have recently concluded a major plan
process. This allows the standardisation to occur as plans are routinely
reviewed,” David Parker said.
“The cost of updating plans to meet the standards will be vastly
exceeded by the cost savings to those who use them.”
--ENDS--
Source: New Zealand Government - www.beehive.govt.nz
Contact: N/A
External Links: http://www.mfe.govt.nz/consultation/draft-national-planning-standards
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