Gillian Crowcroft announced as expert on advisory group in RMA transformation
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Our own environmental technical director, Gillian Crowcroft, has been announced as an expert on the Expert Advisory Group set up by the government to advise on the next phase of resource management reform.
Hon Chris Bishop, Minister for RMA Reform, Minister of Housing and Minister for Infrastructure, and Simon Court, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Infrastructure and RMA Reform, gave a joint address at the recent Resource Management Law Association conference announcing the new system and its planned phases.
The government is taking a phased approach to reforming the resource management system. Phases 1 and 2 are already well underway, while the Expert Advisory Group (EAG) will be leading work in Phase 3 which involves the preparation of new legislation to replace the existing Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA).
The EAG will be developing the blueprint for, and core features of, the new legislation that will replace the RMA.
The government has indicated that there will be two new Bills developed, one focused on urban development and infrastructure, with the second focused on environmental protection.
The advisory group includes experts with relevant technical knowledge ranging from resource management law, planning and Te Ao Māori and will inform the design of the new system.
With her strategic and pragmatic approach to issues, and her rare combination of planning, freshwater management, environmental policy and consenting experience, we are confident that Gillian will make an important contribution to the work of the EAG. She is joined by the following experts:
Janette Campbell, Barrister, Bankside Chambers (Chair of the EAG)
Christine Jones, General Manager of Strategy and Growth at the Tauranga City Council
Paul Melville, General Manager of Policy and Advocacy at Federated Farmers.
Rukumoana Schaafhausen, Chair of Te Arataura, the executive arm of Te Whakakitenga o Waikato which represents Waikato-Tainui
Kevin Counsell, economic consultant and expert at National Economic Research Associates (NERA)
Mark Chrisp, Founding Director at Mitchell Daysh
Recommendations are expected by the end of 2024 with the introduction of legislation in 2025. The government aims to pass it into law by mid-2026.