By Mike Vincent, Associate, Baseline Group | Feb 11, 2022
Love it or hate it, the RMA has shaped the development of New Zealand over the past 30 years. From two lot subdivisions to the exponential growth of towns like Rolleston and major infrastructure projects such as “roads of national significance”, the RMA has been the overarching document that has directed local government. But is time up for the RMA?
Among the public and professionals alike, there is a broad view the RMA is not working as originally intended. Thirty years of adjustments reflect a document which is corrupted and no longer bears resemblance to its original form.
Consequently, criticisms have been levelled at the case-by-case litigation of projects, seemingly losing sight of the Act’s main purpose (being the sustainable management of natural and physical resources). In some respects, the management of resources will always be different between Manukau and Leeston, but should they be so different between neighbouring post codes, or even neighbouring streets?
Other criticisms highlight that the RMA is susceptible to personal interpretations of amenity value. This in turn has impeded development in urban settings leading to housing shortages and congested road networks, contributing to poor social or economic outcomes. There is a common view that RMA timeframes are lengthy and frustrate the process of positive development, leading to uncertainty for major (and minor) projects.
Notwithstanding these issues, it is recognised the previous 30 years has seen genuinely important and momentous infrastructure development within New Zealand, and planning professionals can be proud of the advances made. However, with the passage of time brings new interpretations and with it, the opportunity to reinvest the lessons of 30 years of planning experience into new modern legislation.
In 2022 the Government will release three new pieces of environmental legislation: The Proposed Natural and Built Environments Act, Proposed Strategic Planning Act and Proposed Climate Adaptation Act. Whilst these documents are neither the be all and end all of planning legislation, it is hoped that this new approach will allow for clear and consistent direction on achieving the collective purpose of these new Acts.
No matter their application, development projects will still require professionals and those professionals will continue to provide expert advice and give you the answers you need for your development.
Articles you might be interested in
- Granny Flats to Be Allowed, Without Consent: What Homeowners Need to Know
- A recent Baseline Group project was recognised at the 2022 Canterbury Architecture Awards
- What does a professional planner do?
- Land Development opportunities and times of change
- Rural Allotment Sizes set to Double
- RMA changes are coming, are you ready?
- How to navigate Rural Land Development Under the National Policy Statement on Highly Productive Soils
- Managing Wastewater in Rural Canterbury: A Guide for Property Owners
- Who Shapes our Planning Rules?
- Managing Waterbodies on Your Property: What Landowners Need to Know
- Planning Permissions – Resource Consent or Plan Change?
- Historic Heritage Challenges for Landowners
- Balancing Common Sense and Legal Process under the RMA: Protecting Communities and the Environment
- Going for housing growth, to improve housing affordability
- Importance of Sediment Management in Land Development Projects: Simple Techniques for Effective Sediment Runoff Control
- Our History - How We All Play a Part in its Protection
- Buildings under exemptions may still need resource consent
- With increasing density, good design matters
- New Indigenous Biodiversity Legislation Mandates Significant Natural Area Identification
- The National Policy Statement for Natural Hazard Decision-Making and its effects on Resource Consents
- What does your zone mean for you and your property?
- How Tree Canopies Transform Neighbourhoods and Enhance Lives
- Boundary disputes – What are they and how can you resolve them?
- Crunch Time For New Freshwater Legislation
- Subdividing – The Basics
- Rivers, Lakes and Coastline, Public Space for All
- The importance of knowing your boundaries
- Outstanding Natural Features and Landscapes - effect on farming
- Understanding Zoning and Density Rules in Selwyn
- Spotlight on District Plan Provisions
- Navigating New Opportunities: The Importance of Land Development Planning in 2024
- Game changers for housing under the RMA
- Crime Prevention Through Environment Design (CPTED)
- Highly Productive Soils – Big Picture Thinking vs Private Landowners Needs
- Indigenous Biodiversity: what does it mean for a farmer?
- Is the RMA really the problem?
- How might Development Contributions affect you?
- Confused by Environmental Legislation? You are Not Alone.
- The rise or fall of rural lifestyle blocks in the Selwyn District?
- A New Dawn for Granny Flats and Accessory Dwellings
- Proposed Selwyn District Plan Update
- Housing Growth continues in Selwyn with Legislative Support
- Understanding Land Covenants: What You Need to Know
- The Great Forestry Debate
- How lizards might affect your new development
- Back to Basics for the RMA Reforms
- Cross Lease Titles
- Proposed Selwyn District Plan - What next?
- Flood Management | Changes in Selwyn
- Changes to Resource Management Planning Signalled in Proposed Legislation
- Why we have complicated septic tank disposal rules
- Highly Productive Soils – Big Picture Thinking vs Private Landowners Needs
- Good District Plan provisions save time and money
- Who Pays for Infrastructure in Greenfield Land Development?
- Selwyn District Council Changes Urban Allotment Sizes
- Your Rights as an Affected Neighbour: Navigating Development Under the RMA
- The Role of Planning in Land and Property Development
- State highways, noise and reverse sensitivity: what’s the buzz?
- Hazardous activities, land contamination and resource consent applications
- Managing Cultural Heritage Sites
- Adapting to a Depreciating New Zealand Dollar (NZD)
- Ensuring Compliance with Resource Management Laws
- Have your say on Development Projects
- Minimum Car Parking Requirements to be Chopped
- Housing Intensification – Not for Everyone Says CCC
- What does The Selwyn District Plan (appeals version) mean for the planning process and consent?
- The dream of subdividing your land
- Planning Rules can Affect Property Value
- The Taking of Esplanades at the Time of Subdivision
- Submissions to a Resource Consent by Affected Parties
- Change isn't coming, it's here!
- Is it a Wetland or Not?
- Risks to farmland in the planning framework
- A Practical Guide for District Plan Reviews
- District Plan in Selwyn – How will it Affect You?
- Planning land use to be resilient to natural hazards
- Councils are Increasing Residential Density, but why, who does it benefit?
- Time matters – With Resource Consent
- Wild Weather and Resource Consent Requirements
- Tiny Home Revolution May Not Save Costs
- Commercial Activity in a Rural Zone – What’s the Harm?
- The impact of consent notices when purchasing land
- Cross lease titles - an overview
- Fundamental Culture Shift in New Zealand Planning Legislation.
- What to do when you inherit land
- Build-to-Rent Development in New Zealand: A Rising Trend in Housing
- Rural allotment sizes set to double in West Selwyn
- But that’s the way we have always done it!
- Negotiating with Neighbours Under the RMA
- The costs of subdividing hitting Selwyn | development contributions
- Flood Management – An Update
- Minimum car parking requirements to be chopped
- Tiny Homes and Granny Flats
- Navigating Prior Engineering Acceptance for Urban Developments in Selwyn
- The Role of Planning in the Climate Change - Discussion for Agriculture
- What does an activity status mean for your land development?
- Is planning the cause of red tape for land development?
- Make Your Additional Land Profitable Under the Selwyn Proposed Plan
- Burning crop stubble on your property?