http://ecan.govt.nz/services/online-services/Pages/consent-search.aspx

If consent holders do not have a copy of their consent or do not know their consent
number they should call Customer Services on 03 353-9007 or 0800 324-636.
More information about water measuring services, approved installation companies
and the implementation of the National Regulations can be found at:

http://ecan.govt.nz/watermetering

http://www.mfe.govt.nz/rma/central/measuring-reporting-water-takes.html

The deadlines for installing water measuring systems are:
Date Take size
10 November 2012 20 litres/second or more
10 November 2014 Between 10 and 20 litres/second
10 November 2016 Between 5 and 10 litres/second

Source: http://www.localgovt.co.nz/includes/download.aspx?ID=7378

The Forest & Bird appeal against resource consents issued to the first opencast coal mine in Bathurst Resources’s Buller Coal Project was widely anticipated, and brings to three the number of appeals now received against the Escarpment mine project.

Unexpected was the announcement by Greenpeace that it will seek a judicial review of the oil exploration licences granted to the Brazilian oil and gas giant, Petrobras, to seek hydrocarbons in the Raukumara Basin in waters off East Cape, beyond the 12 mile nautical limit in New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

The Greenpeace action is the first such court challenge to a petroleum exploration licence, and is being mounted in concert with Te Whanau a Apanui, the East Cape iwi that launched joint protests with Greenpeace against a seismic survey conducted for Petrobras earlier this year.

The Forest & Bird appeal joins appeals by the West Coast Environmental Network and the Fairdown Residents Association, which are expected to add at least six months to Bathurst’s timeline for proposed mining, which it had hoped to start by the end of this calendar year, assuming the appeals are unsuccessful.

Concession and access agreements are also needed with the Department of Conservation, and can only be finalised once resource consents are in place.

The company said it will update the market shortly on the implications of the appeals, the deadline for which is today.

Greenpeace and Te Whanau a Apanui said they would argue the government had acted unlawfully by failing to properly consider the environmental impact of activities, the impact on marine life, the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi, and failing to consider customary fishing rights and title claims to the area.

Treaty Negotiations Minister Chris Finlayson has said in the past that customary title claims are unlikely to be sustainable beyond 500 metres from the coastline.

Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/5649846/Green-groups-challenge-Bathurst-Petrobras-consents

The implementation of the ETS schemes in both countries was a key issue at annual talks between Finance Minister Bill English and his Australian counterpart, Treasurer Wayne Swan, in Wellington yesterday.

The talks aimed to move ahead long-running negotiations to create a single economic market.

Australia’s new ETS will tax its 500 worst polluters A$23 (NZ$29.50) for every tonne of carbon they produce from next July.

Swan said linking the two schemes would benefit business on both sides of the Tasman despite the differences in economies and emissions profiles.

Most of Australia’s emissions come from coal-fired power stations, while the main source in New Zealand is agriculture.

Swan said a combined scheme would provide certainty for businesses that operated in both countries and would create a larger, more efficient trading market for carbon credits.

He said much of the criticism levelled at the scheme in Australia matched that ahead of the introduction of the New Zealand scheme. Australian coalminers say the tax will lead to mine closures and job losses.

“That scaremongering has not matched the facts in terms of the New Zealand ETS.”

Australians would be comforted by the fact that the New Zealand scheme was working well, Swan said.

New Zealand’s initial price of $12.50 a tonne of carbon would rise to $25 in 2013. English said a clearer picture of the schemes’ similarities would emerge over the next 12 months after New Zealand reviewed its scheme.

Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/5287480/Carbon-plans-to-be-integrated

Chaired by Rob Morrison, its trustees are among some the best-known names in business: Sir George Fistonich, Rob Fyfe, Chris Liddell, Philip Mills, Jeremy Moon, Lloyd Morrison, Geoff Ross, Justine Smyth, Sir Stephen Tindall and Joan Withers.

It’s looking to sign up members – thousands, preferably – on the grounds that the more it has, the more likely politicians are to listen to it.

Potential supporters can find it on its website and on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube – indications that it’s looking to attract a wider, and younger membership than a traditional business organisation.

New Zealand’s clean, green brand is valuable but vulnerable, given the gap between rhetoric and reality, Rob Morrison says. “We can’t afford to let our reputation, and consequently our exporters, suffer for lack of environmental leadership.

“Nor should we miss the opportunity that the global shift to green growth represents for a country like New Zealand.”

It’s also about improving the efficiency with which resources like energy and water are used, and raising the environmental credentials of entire supply chains.

Having worked in Asia, Morrison sees opportunities in China for New Zealand expertise in irrigation, for example.

Pure Advantage plans to commission an economic study to define the opportunities for green growth in this country, and to highlight the threats of inaction.

Once the business case has been proved, a “road map for change” will follow.

“We don’t pretend to have all the answers but hope by opening the debate, funding research and discussion, we can help New Zealanders to a broad agreement on the best way forward,” he said.

Meanwhile the Government’s Green Growth Advisory Group – itself the product of lobbying by some of the Pure Advantage trustees – is seeking feedback to an issues paper released this week.

It too recognises threats to the clean, green brand: “New Zealand will only benefit from an image and reputation that is grounded in the reality of practices and outcomes. Brands, generally, need to be authentic or they can backfire”.

The taskforce, chaired by Business New Zealand chief executive Phil O’Reilly, has a particular focus on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

“As New Zealand’s larger exporters are dependent on SMEs for production inputs, demand for greener [products] will drive down to those SMEs. Those not able to meet new requirements flowing through supply chains are likely to lose business,” the issues paper says.

The new era will not bring risks but opportunities, not only in reduction of carbon emissions but also in areas such as waste management and water conservation.

ON THE WEB
pureadvantage.org

Source: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/brian-fallow-on-the-economy/news/article.cfm?c_id=1502863&objectid=10737001

Labour MP David Parker yesterday said “senior” mining industry sources had told him they planned to seek an increase in the size of pockets of Schedule Four land, which may be used for mining related activities.

Under current law, miners could obtain permits to allow “interference” on Schedule Four land restricted to areas 10m by 10m.

That was to allow mining vents or tracks to emergency exits, said Mr Parker.

“It’s not intended to facilitate mining in Schedule Four land. That’s why what the industry would like to do is have that changed to 30m by 30m which would then allow them to have drilling rigs for prospecting purposes.”

Mr Parker understood the industry’s objective was “to prove whether there’s a valuable resource there, and then you would cause a large amount of pressure to remove an area from Schedule Four protection”.

Less than a year ago, public opinion – including a march down Queen St by 20,000 to 40,000 people led by actors Robyn Malcolm and Lucy Lawless – forced the Government into an embarrassing u-turn over its plans to remove Schedule Four protection from 7058ha of the Department of Conservation estate.

That included conservation land in Coromandel, Great Barrier Island and Paparoa National Park North Westland.

Appearing before Parliament’s commerce committee yesterday, acting Energy and Resources Minister Hekia Parata and her officials told Mr Parker they were not aware of any approach from the industry to change the Schedule Four regime.

Later, she told the Herald she would not be receptive to any such request.

“Last year, we consulted with New Zealanders on mining and Schedule Four and the answer was resoundingly clear – New Zealanders do not want mining on Schedule Four lands and the outcomes of that review will be incorporated into the Crown Minerals regime.”

Chief executive of the Minerals Industry Association Doug Gordon said he was not aware of any specific approach by the industry over the issue but he would support such a move.

He said the intent of legislation and regulations allowing an area 10m by 10m to be cleared of vegetation for low-impact activity was always intended to allow for exploration. However, that area was too small for that, while 400 square metres (10m x 20m) would allow comfortable operation of a drilling rig.

“If you were to prove something up and want to mine there, for example Pike River was on Schedule four, you’ve got access to the ore body from outside.”

Green Party mining spokeswoman Catherine Delahunty said that her party “would be very opposed to any weakening of Schedule Four”. “The mining industry are determined to mine within Schedule Four, whether it’s going underneath with underground mining or by pushing the rules … it’s basically mining by hook or by crook.”

SCHEDULE FOUR

* Was added to the Crown Minerals Act in 1997 and restricts mineral-related activity in specified conservation areas.
* Schedule Four land areas total about 40 per cent of public conservation land including national parks or 13 per cent of New Zealand’s total land area.

* Only “minimum impact” activities are permissible in Schedule Four, including geological, geochemical and geophysical surveying, taking samples by hand-held methods, and aerial and land surveying.

* An area of vegetation 10m by 10m or 100sq m might be cleared to allow for such activity.

* Labour says miners are seeking to have that increased to 30m by 30m or 900sq m.

Source: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10731291

It is vital that all aspects of the prosecution process are effectively and efficiently covered before the case reaches the court and that the prosecution itself is well prepared and presented in accordance with the lessons of experience, the latest techniques and best practice.

This course has been specially designed to provide local government lawyers, compliance and enforcement managers and prosecution officers with the essential tools, insights and strategies to achieve the best possible outcome, whilst enhancing delegates’ professional development.

The Conference on Day Three includes two interactive forums on key areas of the prosecution process aimed at sharpening your skills.

Subjects being canvassed include:

Statutory power to prosecute
Identifying correct defendant
Physical, documentary and electronic evidence
Obtaining an interim injunction
Deciding whether to prosecute or not
Preparing sentencing submissions

EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT! DON’T MISS OUT!
Register before 3 July 2009 and receive 15% off the standard price!
Pay only $1266.50 + GST for the conference and interactive forums, or $930.75 for the conference only!

Call 09 368 9502 or email seminars@lexisnexis.co.nz to register now!
Please send faxes to 09 368 9500

To read the original article online, click here.

Auckland City Council have been using CS-VUE to manage their consents since 2004 and so while we are sad to see her go, we are also looking forward to assisting Ritashna in her new role as customer of CS-VUE!

Good luck, and keep up the good work Ritashna!

We’d like to welcome Rini Fernandes in to our team as compliance data specialist.

Rini can be contacted by clicking here.

Their membership of the NZPI elevates our sister company, and specialist RMA consultancy, ASL to the local government ‘inner circle’ of accredited consultants and confirm their status as a multidisciplinary firm. 

Auckland City Council has introduced a new streamlined process for handling resource consents in a bid to provide a faster service.  A new standardised resource consent application format is available for use by recognised planning consultants such as ASL. 

Refer to www.nzplanning.co.nz or www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/council/services/resourceconsents/streamline.asp for more information.