Queenstown Lakes deputy mayor Quentin Smith says the government's Fast-Track Approvals Bill is "one of the worst pieces of legislation that has been put to this government in decades". 

The bill would strip councils of the power to reject major planning applications, with decisions made instead by three ministers advised by an expert panel.

Submissions are being made to the Environment Select Committee on the bill and Queenstown Lakes councillors approved their own submission, put together by staffers, on Thursday (June 6).

But several, including Quentin, complained that the council's 'neutral' submission did not go far enough in condemning the bill.

"It puts at risk most of the strategic work that we do as a council: the district plan, the spatial plan, the landscape protection, all these sorts of things," Quentin said.

"I am aware of at least 10 potential fast-track applications that would affect our district. They range from some that have some merit, to some that are ridiculous, and some that have already been defeated multiple times in our existing processes.

"I will vote in favour [of the submission] because of the other items in it, the valid points we are making, but I will make a very strong statement now that I strongly oppose this legislation and would have preferred that we take that stance."

The Labour Party describes the bill as "deeply flawed", designed to drive through projects no matter the environmental impact, while former National Party minister Simon Upton, the World Wildlife Foundation, Forest & Bird and countless others have made strongly-worded submissions opposing the coalition government's plan.

Councillors Esther Whitehead, Niki Gladding, and Lisa Guy also spoke out against the bill at Thursday's full council meeting.

"I will just publicly state that I am fully opposed to this in every shape and form because it is shamelessly going against all our obligations in New Zealand," Esther said.

“What this bill does is… offer a concurrent way to basically put aside any safeguards that we have with our Treaty and environmental obligations."

Lisa said she has "huge concerns around the overall impact of the bill".

Nikki also questioned the democratic accountability of councillors being asked to retrospectively approve the submission close to the deadline, with the Environment Select Committee due to meet next week.

Esther said she agreed with the point but thanked staff for the "many very useful recommendations in it" and said she understood the challenges of making the submission within the timeframes.

QLDC's submission cautions that the proposed legislation "should focus on providing a 'fast track' not an 'easy track'”.

"Overall, QLDC is concerned that the bill does not provide the necessary checks and balances needed to ensure high quality social, economic, cultural and environmental outcomes," the submission reads.

"Ministers should be required to fully justify and report on their decisions, and if they depart from expert panel recommendations, relevant local authorities must have the capacity to provide further input ahead of any final decision, particularly in the case of any housing and infrastructure projects, or for any prohibited activity.”

The bill should also have a sunset clause which aligns with central government's reform of the Resource Management Act, it said.

The submission was approved unanimously by councillors. 

PHOTO: Wānaka App