Source: Business Canterbury
Business Canterbury has welcomed today’s announcement on Resource Management Act (RMA) reform, describing it as a step toward reducing the costs, delays, complexity and frustrations that have long impacted Canterbury businesses trying to grow.
“For decades, the inconsistent and sometimes unclear interpretation of resource management rules has created uncertainty and inefficiency for business and investors, without necessarily driving proportionate outcomes for the environment.
“At the end of the day, we are a country and region made up of small, agile businesses which want to grow and do the best for their people and the environment – we just need regulation that keeps up and enables rather than hinders.
“We should not have businesses operating in an environment where consenting is described as the black hole phase of a project. The hope is that the proposals outlined today will turn that around – and we believe better structures particularly around standardisation and proportionality will help.
“Rising energy costs have been a particular concern for businesses recently, with restrictive planning rules getting in the way of investment and progress on this critical infrastructure – something a growing Canterbury needs.
“We do acknowledge the challenge ahead for local government. There’s a lot for councils to work through at pace, alongside other reform facing local government, and that needs to be balanced with their focus on core service delivery which will be important as the economy starts to gather steam going into next year.”
ENDS
Business Canterbury, formerly Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce, is the second largest Chamber of Commerce in New Zealand and the largest business support organisation in the South Island. It advocates on behalf of its members for an environment more favourable to innovation, productivity and sustainable growth.
