Councillors agreed to support a joint submission from Otago and Southland councils to the draft Natural and Built Environment Bill, which labels it as ambiguous and unclear, during a strategy and planning committee meeting yesterday.
The "exposure" draft of the Bill, which is the main proposed replacement for the RMA, provides an early look at key aspects of the legislation.
Cr Hilary Calvert said she understood it was not the Government’s desire for the exposure draft to be heavily detailed, but that the "devil does lie in the detail".
"[We have] to put out word of caution about it not having enough detail ... We’re not even sure if we do agree with it."
Cr Bryan Scott asked council staff why it was that local councils appeared to be critical of the draft Bill, when there seemed to be a general agreement that the RMA needed to be changed.
Council senior strategic analyst Sylvie Leduc said local councils agreed there was need for reform, but the result of the reform needed to be a "significant" improvement.
Otakou marae kaumatua Edward Ellison said the joint submission was a "very good cautionary submission".
An individual submission from the regional council highlighting more local concerns was also approved.
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So our Councillors don’t know what parts of the RMA need changing or why? You would think that after 30 years in the business they might have an inkling? No doubt the current bunch will administer any new legislation with the same skill and competence shown to date? The blind leading the blind!