First Reading Speech: Environment Canterbury (Temporary Commissioners and Improved Water Management) Amendment Bill

Mr Speaker, I move that the Environment Canterbury (Temporary Commissioners and Improved Water Management) Amendment Bill be now read a first time. I nominate the Local Government and Environment Committee to consider the Bill.

At the appropriate time, I intend to move that the Environment Canterbury (Temporary Commissioners and Improved Water Management) Amendment Bill be considered by the Local Government and Environment Committee and that the Committee present its final report to the House on or before 30 January 2013.

Mr Speaker, the Canterbury region is of national significance. It has over 60 per cent of New Zealand’s fresh water resource. It has around 34 per cent of New Zealand’s hydro generation capacity, 70 per cent of its generation storage and accounts for, in the order of, 18 per cent of the country’s overall hydroelectric generation.

The region has huge economic growth potential, and is a key driver in making New Zealand a more productive and competitive economy.

It is vital that a clear vision is developed for the economic growth and sustainable management of natural resources in the Canterbury region.

To do this, the Canterbury region needs a leadership that is effective in its planning and decision making; a leadership that works in a constructive and collaborative manner with councils, iwi, and other key stakeholders; and a leadership that inspires confidence throughout the community.

Mr Speaker, this Bill:

• provides for the continuation of Commissioners in Environment Canterbury, or ECan, over the next local body election cycle;

• Continues the limitation on the rights of appeal to points of law only to the High Court on RMA plans and policy statements; and

• Provides for a Ministerial review of governance arrangements in the Canterbury region, commencing in March 2014

Mr Speaker, no government wants to roll over local democracy. My preference is always for local democracy to work effectively and efficiently. That is why we have set such a high benchmark for any such interventions.

But when a council is ineffective; when a council loses the confidence of its community including every one of its ten Mayors; and when a council puts at risk the region’s prospects for economic growth; something had to be done.

In 2009 the Government commissioned an independent report into the performance of ECan. This report was commissioned after an extended period of serious poor performance including:

• an inability to deliver a clear strategic vision for the region;

• an inability to effectively manage and deliver a number of its core regulatory functions; and

• an inability to manage relationships with stakeholders in the region.

This report found that the extent of the gap between the capability of ECan and what was required for it to adequately manage freshwater issues was enormous and unprecedented.

It said that the failures of ECan required "comprehensive and rapid intervention on the part of central government to protect and enhance both regional and national well-being." So in 2010, the Government intervened.

I congratulate the seven Commissioners led by Dame Margaret Bazley for the outstanding job that they have done in the last two and a half years. They have addressed ECan’s systemic problems and reformed its decision making and conduct. In particular I note their success in:

• managing the Natural Resources Regional Plan to an operative stage and starting work on a second-generation Land and Water Plan;

• making significant progress on the implementation of the Canterbury Freshwater Management Strategy;

• significantly improving relationships with territorial authorities, iwi, and other stakeholders; and

• dramatically improving compliance with statutory consent timelines under the RMA from just 29% in 2007/2008 to 92% in 2010/2011.

Mr Speaker, when the original Act was introduced in 2010, the responsible Minister noted: "The explicit intent is for the Commissioners to withdraw and to be replaced by elected representatives as soon as their task is achieved and present systemic issues are resolved."

While I acknowledge the success of the Commissioners, the fact is that the job is not yet complete.

Subsequent to the original legislation, the Canterbury region has been hit by four devastating earthquake events.

Those earthquakes have placed a nationwide focus on the importance of rebuilding Christchurch and the wider Canterbury economy. They have brought into sharper focus the need for a competent and consistent approach to planning for vital infrastructure.

Getting the infrastructure planning right is crucial for both the earthquake recovery and continued regional economic growth. To give Cantabrians the best chance of a successful recovery, the region needs strong and effective leadership.

As Canterbury recovers from the earthquakes it is also vital that the relationships between agencies such as CERA, the Christchurch City Council, and the Stronger Christchurch Infrastructure Rebuild Team are strong. Currently such relationships are working effectively. To displace or interrupt these linkages would significantly affect Canterbury’s recovery.

Finally, this Bill provides for a Ministerial review of the ECan governance arrangements to take place in March 2014. It is very important to transition the regional governance of Canterbury back to democracy. The inclusion of this review in the Bill shows that this Government is serious about providing the best long term governance solution for the Canterbury region.

Mr Speaker, this Bill is about providing the Canterbury region with a stable and effective governance arrangement desperately needed to assist the earthquake recovery and to provide a platform for future economic growth.

I commend this Bill to the House.