The coalition government is to use its controversial ‘fast track’ legislation to bypass drawn-out environmental approvals and speed the development of coal.
When the National/ACT/NZ First coalition government took power in New Zealand last year, one of its first pieces of legislation was a “Fast Track” Bill, which would bypass the usually lengthy process of scrutiny given to new infrastructure developments if they were considered to be in the national interest.
As part of that law, a schedule would list projects identified as eligible for the process, and today, the government released that list.
Of the 384 bids made by industry during the public application process, 149 have been selected as having “significant regional or national benefits.”
Minister for Infrastructure Chris Bishop claimed the selected projects will rebuild the economy, fix the housing crisis, improve energy security, and address the country’s infrastructure deficit.
“It’s about getting New Zealand moving and cutting through the red tape,” he said in a press conference on Oct. 7. “It’s about jobs and growth.”
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones said in a statement that the list resulted from a “thorough and robust” process. Cabinet made the final decision after referral to the Ministry for the Environment and an independent advisory group.
The projects include seven aquaculture and farming projects, 43 infrastructure projects, 22 renewable energy projects, and 11 mining projects.
Mining peak body Straterra welcomed the announcement, saying the list acknowledged the regional and national significance of mining.
“At a time when manufacturing and processing plants are closing in the regions, mining brings much needed jobs and money into regional communities, and exports to boost our trade deficit. Mining belongs on the fast-track list,” Chief Executive Josie Vidal said.
“Responsible mining in New Zealand will still meet the same high employment and health and safety standards and strict environmental conditions as it does now. Those conditions include paying bonds and having full mine closure plans to return the mined land to how it was before, if not better.
“Gold and coal, as well as the minerals on the recently released draft critical minerals list, are vital to our high-tech, low-emissions future. It is right that if they can be mined in New Zealand, they should be.”
Forest and Bird, however, called the list’s release “a dark day for democracy.” It pointed out that the list of projects for automatic fast-tracking was released only today, months after public consultation closed, and is writing to ask Parliament’s Environment Committee to delay reporting back on the Bill until it has had time to properly consider the schedule.
“The missing schedule includes developments with serious and complex environmental consequences—coal mining in pristine kiwi habitat, getting rid of forest with high conservation values, and damaging ocean that is home to critically endangered blue whales and Māui dolphins,” said the organisation’s general manager of advocacy, Richard Capie.
However, the Environmental Defence Society (EDS) noted that there is both good and bad in the announcement.
“Listed projects include public infrastructure, energy, and housing developments which will help bridge New Zealand’s infrastructure deficit and housing shortage. EDS is not opposed to fast-track processes for essential public infrastructure and housing,” CEO Gary Taylor said.
“A number of large-scale wind and solar projects are included, which is a good thing. [But] some of them occur on Significant Natural Areas, which pits climate change against biodiversity loss.
“The list of questionable projects includes coal mines, open pit gold mines on conservation covenants, projects that have already been declined by independent decision-makers, major extensions to Auckland wharves and many more disasters for our natural environment.”
He added that fast tracking coal mines went against New Zealand’s international climate change agreements, adding that the country should be transitioning away from fossil fuels.
“As currently designed, the bill almost guarantees approval for the projects. It fails to properly balance development and environment considerations and instead has a deeply troubling bias in favour of applicants. That means that good projects will get approved along with the bad. Local communities will not have a say,” Taylor said.
Labour’s acting environment spokesman, David Parker, condemned the list.
“The coalition government has just confirmed a line-up of projects that could wreak havoc on our natural environment. This backwards move is irresponsible, and will undermine our clean-green reputation, which underlies the premium price New Zealand gets for our milk and meat exports,” he said in a statement.
Other projects include 44 separate housing developments, which will enable up to 55,000 new homes to be consented in New Zealand’s major growth centres and across the regions, and the redevelopment of the existing Eden Park facility in Auckland “to deliver a world-class hybrid multi-purpose stadium” with a retractable roof and a capacity of over 50,000.
Exactly how quickly selected projects will go from the planning stage to the commencement of work will vary, but Bishop says, in general, it will reduce the time from years to months.
The full list of projects is available online (pdf).