Mooney welcomes Fast Track becoming law
Queenstown's MP Joseph Mooney has welcomed the Coalition Government’s new fast-track consenting regime.
The Fast-track Approvals Bill passed its third reading in Parliament yesterday. Applications for projects to be considered using the new Fast Track regime will be accepted from 7 February.
“Seven of the 149 projects announced come from Queenstown and will breathe extra life into our region’s economy," Mooney says
"Queenstown has some of the highest house prices in the country, owing in part to the lack of housing supply. That means more young families are being priced out of the region, and critical workers are living in unsuitable accommodation.
"This Bill is the next step in fixing our housing crisis, and an important part of the Government’s ‘Going for Housing Growth’ plan."
Mooney says fast-track will be huge step forward in addressing New Zealand's infrastructure deficit, housing crisis, and energy shortage.
“For too long New Zealanders have had to put up with overly restrictive planning rules that stifle much-needed economic growth. The Coalition Government is cutting through the jumble of consenting processes so we can deliver new infrastructure up and down the country, grow our economy, and provide much-needed new jobs for regions like Southland.
"These projects were selected through a robust process, including assessments by the Ministry for the Environment, an independent Advisory Group, and Cabinet approval. This initiative will cut through red and green tape, enabling critical infrastructure and housing projects to move forward swiftly.
“However, this initiative is not just about speed. It’s about creating high-paying jobs, addressing long-standing housing shortages, and closing infrastructure gaps. The projects included in the Fast-track Approvals Bill will play a key role in boosting growth and prosperity."
But Labour's environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking says the Bill will enable unsustainable and destructive projects to leap-frog environment protection.
“Fast-track passing into law is bad news for New Zealand’s environment, and paves the way for significant harm not only to our water, air and climate, but for our communities,” Brooking says.
“This legislation fast-tracks the most radical and unbalanced consenting regime in living memory, including for projects that will do significant harm to the environment.
“Labour remains committed to standing up for the environment, iwi, and communities that will be affected by this legislation. We will continue to support development that protects New Zealand’s unique natural heritage and prioritises sustainability for future.
“This is deeply flawed legislation that prioritises short-term profit over the long-term sustainable management of New Zealand’s environment, and locks communities out of decision-making."
Brooking says Labour’s fast-track process, under Covid-19 legislation, showed that consenting for housing, renewable energy, and infrastructure projects could be done quickly and responsibly without sacrificing environmental protections.
“This Bill allows the environmental protections to be overridden so private projects that would otherwise not get consent can get the go-ahead, like seabed mining, coal mining, and waste incineration.
“It flies in the face of official advice, which says sustainable management must remain central to any fast-track process.
“We will be keeping a close watch on these projects and continue to call out any attempts to bypass proper environmental protections and the impact they will have on communities as these projects progress,” Rachel Brooking said.
Applications for projects to be considered using the new Fast Track regime will be accepted from 7 February.
Fast Track Projects in Mooney's Southland electorate, which includes Queenstown:
Homestead Bay
The Homestead Bay project is a residential development of 2800 residential units, subdivision, and development at the southern end of Queenstown.
Coronet Village
The project will develop a new alpine village immediately below Coronet Peak, with a new gondola providing access up to the existing Coronet Peak Ski Area, new ski area development, and considerable supporting infrastructure. The project will comprise: a new transport hub improving access to Coronet Peak, a mountain bike facility, a restaurant at the summit of Coronet Peak, a facility for Te Tapu o Tane, a boarding high school, a primary school, a comprehensive subdivision up to 780 residential units, public roading and public wastewater infrastructure.
Remarkables Ski Area Upgrade and Doolans Expansion
The project is to upgrade the Remarkables existing infrastructure and expand the existing Remarkables Ski Area into the adjacent Doolans Basin in Otago.
Silver Creek
The Silver Creek project is to provide for residential development and subdivision enabling approximately 1,050 dwelling units across a 32 hectare of urban land zoned for development.
Gibbston Village
The Gibbston Village project is a residential and commercial development project, including 900 dwelling units, a 2.4-hectare commercial area for day-to-day amenities, a 3 hectare primary school for about 350 students and associated infrastructure.
Flint’s Park Urban Intensification
The project includes the construction of 501 residential dwellings in a residential neighbourhood, around the existing heritage building that will contain a neighbourhood mixed-use centre and an automated cable way to access residential development of the lower slopes of Slope Hill.
The Hills Resort Development
The project is to construct and operate a golf resort, a 18-hole championship course, and construction of resort facilities, including visitor accommodation, staff accommodation and residential activities.
