EDS has lodged its final submission on the Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill, including detailed tracked-change drafting to address significant weaknesses in the legislation.

“This is the most significant and complex environmental law reform in decades. There is no more appetite for constant legislative upheaval, so the framework must be robust, durable, and environmentally credible from the outset,” says EDS Reform Director Dr Greg Severinsen.

EDS outlines four major concerns with the Bills:

• Regulatory relief risks undermining environmental protection
• Environmental limits lack clarity and strength
• Public participation is being stripped away
• Narrowed planning scope could weaken outcomes

The EDS submission is here.

Proposed track-changed amendments here.

More: Greg Severinsen 021 585 951 greg@eds.org.nz