The number of cases tangled up in the Resource Management Act and left running late has reached a new record, according to a recent report.

Environment Minister Nick Smith released the two-yearly report RMA Survey of Local Authorities, and it shows that just 69% of consents were processed on time, compared to 73% last year and continues a decline from a peak of 82% in 2001/2002.

Just 70% of subdivisions, 70% of land-use, 76% of coastal, 66% of water and 59% of discharge consent applications were processed on time.

This is despite processing similar numbers of consents compared to last year, 51,960 in 2007/2008 and 51,768 in 2005/2006.

Just 385 consents were declined (0.74%), a slight increase from 357 (0.69%) in 2005/2006.

All 85 local authorities were asked to complete the survey, and all but one local authority did so, Rangitikei District Council.

The council has gone through extensive staff changes, and Dr Smith will be sending a letter for further information.

It is unclear what effect this has on the statistics presented.

Dr Smith has presented the report to the Local Government and Environment Select Committee, which is overseeing the Resource Management Amendment Bill.
 
“The bill is about simplifying the consent process and providing incentives for Councils to improve their consenting timeframes. The two-yearly report shows we need to strengthen these proposals to ensure better performance,” he says.

Dr Smith says he has sent letters to the eight councils who are breaching the law more often than they are complying.

He has sent congratulatory letters to the other 25 councils with 90% or better compliance.
 
“The efficient processing of resource consents is critical to lifting productivity and the creation of new jobs. This report is a wake-up call that significant improvement is required.”

The next RMA Two-yearly Survey of Local Authorities will cover the 2010/2011 financial year, skipping the 2009/2010 year.

This gap year will be to allow the government’s Resource Management (Simplifying and Streamlining) Amendment Bill, which is has been introduced to parliament and is currently in front of the Local Government and Environment Committee.

The National Government made reforming the RMA one of the business centrepieces of their election platform, pledging to cut red tape, abuses of the process and pointless objections.

The committee is to report back to the house on July 27.