Earthquake report prompts changes to RMA
A technical advisory group led by barrister Alan Dormer will report back to government by March 2012 on detailed proposals.
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Changes to the Resource Management Act are being proposed following the Canterbury earthquakes.
A report into subdivision approvals in Christchurch's eastern suburbs found that although the majority of these areas were zoned for residential development in the 1960s and 1970s, significant areas were consented for subdivision after 1991, when the liquefaction risk in these areas was clearly identified.
“The RMA didn’t work and needs fixing,” Dr Smith said.
“The concern is that reports in 1991 identified these areas as highly susceptible to liquefaction, yet consents for subdivisions were granted without any consideration of these risks.
“About a fifth of the areas badly affected by liquefaction in earthquakes over the last year were consented after this time. The problem is the RMA did not – and still does not – require these sorts of risks to be assessed and managed.”
“The changes will feed into the government's broader, second phase of changes to the RMA planned for next year, Dr Smith said.
A technical advisory group led by barrister Alan Dormer will report back to government by March 2012 on detailed proposals, he said.
Colin Williscroft
Fri, 07 Oct 2011
Fri, 07 Oct 2011
© All content copyright NBR. Do not reproduce in any form without permission, even if you have a paid subscription.
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Earthquake report prompts changes to RMA
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