Barry Johnson Environmental Policy Manager writes that despite significant turmoil; the Environmental Policy team was able to achieve some substantial milestones with progress for large environmental policy projects.

Twelve months ago, the team was halfway through a joint scoping exercise with Nelson City Council and ngā iwi to assess readiness to embark on developing a joint resource management plan for Nelson Tasman under the new Spatial Planning Act and Natural and Built Environments Act.

The incoming Government immediately repealed the new legislation and reverted to the Resource Management Act (RMA) while launching its own programme of Resource Management Reform (RM reform).

Despite the repeal of the new acts the scoping exercise, completed in December was a real success and has provided a lot of key learnings for how the two councils and ngā iwi can work together in future.

Since then, we have seen three new pieces of legislation introduced, two bills changing the RMA as well as the Fast Track consenting bill. The team has been busy preparing submissions and supporting Mayor Tim at select committee hearings.

The environmental challenges in Tasman aren’t waiting for the Government to change the law so the Environmental Policy team with the endorsement of Council forged ahead with projects covering:

Urban Growth - implementing the Nelson Tasman Future Development Strategy (FDS) through plan changes completed to zone land for housing in Brightwater, Murchison, Wakefield and Motueka plus preparation for an upcoming plan change to provide ten years of land for new homes and businesses.

Natural Hazards – responding to hazards and climate change. In the early stages with more to come in 2025;

Land and Freshwater – considerable work completed on a draft plan change to address priority freshwater issues in Tasman, including Te Waikoropupū Water Conservation Order, Waimea plains nitrates, and groundwater demand in the Moutere aquifer;

Outstanding Natural Landscapes and Features – we are progressing a plan change to address a longstanding RMA obligation to map and protect these special places; and

Coastal – Structure plans for Port Tarakohe and Port Motueka to provide a blueprint for how they can operate and develop in the future are well underway and will be completed in 2025

The next 12 months is likely to see either notification or release of draft plan changes that address some of the District’s biggest environmental issues. It should also provide the clarity on the future of resource management law in New Zealand that will enable the completion of some of these large, long running projects.