RMA Needed

Jun 14, 03:54 PM

Current Headlines: By SMITH, Tony

John Key (June 7) says too many hydro projects are being held up by red tape created by the Resource Management Act.

The intent of the Act is to ensure that environmental and natural resource costs are taken into account so that they can be avoided, remedied or mitigated. The designs of projects may not recognise social and environmental matters, or give due weight to community aspirations. The aim of the RMA is not to delay proposals but to ensure all benefits and costs are recognised, so that if necessary proposals can be amended -- or, in the extreme, abandoned -- to enable the maximum benefit to be obtained at the least cost.

I hope that a future National-led government would ensure that the values of New Zealand's natural resources and environmental assets are managed and conserved for future generations and the community.

M. P. MOSLEY Tai Tapu

(c) 2007 Press, The; Christchurch, New Zealand. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.