John MacDonald: New legislation is more ram-raid than fast-track

The Government's fast track legislation is shaping up to be a real cluster. Especially, in Greater Christchurch.

I think some of the projects it wants to get going here sooner rather than later are making its new legislation more ram-raid than fast track. 

So it's released details of 149 projects that will be included in the Bill which, it says, is being done to help rebuild the economy, sort out the housing crisis, improve energy security, and do something about the state of our infrastructure. 

But, here in Canterbury, it's going head-to-head with the Selwyn and Waimakariri councils over the construction of nearly 8,000 houses which these two councils have been trying to block for years. 

The reason they don't want them is that they don't think they can cope with the kind of rapid expansion these developments would lead to. And I agree. 

I think it's reckless and all part of this "get stuff done" mentality that can sound great, but that's about it. 

I think what we're seeing here is the Government going all "you can't stop progress" on it and not considering the wider implications. And they are riding roughshod over the concerns of two of our local councils. 

In Selwyn, for example, under the new fast track bill, a development by the Carter Group in Rolleston West would see 4,200 more homes built across four suburbs. 

Which would mean more than 12,000 new residents fast-tracked into Rolleston - which is already New Zealand's fastest-growing town.

That's on the basis of there being 4,200 extra houses, and an average of just under three people per house in Selwyn at the moment. That happens - and the population of Rolleston would increase by 41 percent. 

As Selwyn councillor Sophie McInnes is saying today, that would be "explosive growth".

She says, think about how many schools they would need in the area - where Rolleston College is already a capacity with 1,800 students. You bring another 12,000 people into the area and you're going to need more schools, aren't you?

What about health facilities? I don't see any new medical centres or a hospital on the Government's list of things to do. 

As Selwyn councillor Sophie McInnes is saying, they want Rolleston to grow at its own pace. In a sustainable way. 

For the local economy to grow and create local jobs, so they don't get these new developments popping up where people sleep at night and then leave in the morning to go to work and school in the city. 

And then there's Waimakariri. Where the Carter Group wants to build 850 houses and a commercial centre at Ohoka but the council's been against it - for the same reason as Selwyn has been opposed to the developments there - because of concerns about unsustainable growth. 

The difference is, though, that the Ohoka development includes a school and/or a retirement home. 

But, last year, independent commissioners decided not to give consent for the project because they didn't think it would fit with Ohoka's existing rural nature, and because there's a lack of local jobs and a lack of public transport. 

They said at the time, "Families with secondary school students, sporting interests and those working in Rangiora, Kaiapoi or Christchurch will travel to meet their day-to-day needs."

So, basically, the decision not to give the Ohoka project consent was for similar reasons as to why the Selwyn council doesn't want that massive 4,200 house development. 

These areas can't cope with that kind of growth and it would just turn them into dormitories. 

But, oh no, the developers with their noses out of joint have run to the Government and have said "pick us, pick us" and the Government has decided "yep, you're on the list".

And I think it is very short-sighted. I think the Government is being reckless. And I thi

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Canterbury Morning's Podcast with John McDonald
from Newstalk ZB.

Speaker 2 (00:13):
You know, I reckon the government's fast track legislation. I
think it's shaping up to be a real cluster, especially
here in Greater christ Church. I think some of the
projects that wants to get going here sooner rather than later,
making its new legislation look more like a ram raid
than a fast track. So it's released details of one

(00:34):
hundred and forty nine projects is around the country, one
hundred and forty nine projects that will be included in
the bill, which it says as the government, it says
is being done to help rebuild the economy, sort out
the housing crisis, improve energy security and do something about
the state of our infrastructure. But here in Canterbury, in

(00:55):
Greater christ Church, the government's going head to head with
the Selwyn and the Weymacharity councils over the construction of
nearly eight thousand houses, which these two councils have been
trying to stop or block for years. Reason being the
reason they don't want them is that they don't think
they can cope with the kind of rapid expansion these

(01:16):
developments would lead to and I agree. I think it's
reckless what the government's doing. And it's all part of
this you know, get stuff done mentality. It sounds great, looks,
it looks even better on paper, but that's about it.
I think what we're seeing here is a government going
all you know, you can't stop progress on it without

(01:38):
considering the wider implications, and they are riding roughshod over
the concerns of two of our local councils. You know,
get more houses built without thinking too much about the consequences.
This is We're brilliant. We are brilliant of this in
New Zealand, doing everything in isolation. So let's go through

(02:01):
some numbers. Ah in Selwyn under the new fast Track Bill,
development by the Carter Group in Rolliston West would see
four thousand, two hundred more homes built across four suburbs.
Four thousand, two hundred more homes built across four suburbs, which,
as has been reported today, would mean more than twelve

(02:21):
thousand new residents fast tracked into Rolliston. It's already in
New Zealand's fastest growing town, but add another twelve thousand.
That's on the basis of there being four thousand and
two hundred extra houses and an average of just under
three people per house in Selwyn at the moment. So
that happens the population of Roliston increases by forty one percent.

(02:44):
As Selmyn Council of Sophie mc innis is saying today,
that would be quote explosive growth. She says, you know,
to think about it, Think about how many schools they
would need in the area where Rolliston College is already
at capacity with eighteen hundred students. You bring in another
twelve thousand people. You're going to need more schools, aren't you.

(03:05):
What about how facilities. I don't see any new medical
centers or a hospital on the government's list of things
to do with stuff to get done. And as Selwyn
Council of Sophie mcinness are saying, and I agree with them,
they want Rolliston to grow, but it's at its own pace,
in a sustainable way for the local economy to grow

(03:29):
and create local jobs, so that they don't get these
new developments, because this is this is what will happen,
mark my words. They'll get these new developments popping up
where people sleep at night then leave in the morning
to go to work and to go to school in
the city. Remember that stat This is what I tried
out whenever I get the opportunity or whenever it's needed.
To remind you, fifty percent of people who live in

(03:50):
Selwyn travel into the city every day to go to work,
or go to school, or do whatever it is they do.
And then there's why Markereti, where again the Karter group
wants to build eight hundred and fifty houses, so smaller
scale and a commercial center and or Hawk. But the
council in Why Macaradi has been anti Thatt as well,

(04:10):
and for the same reason as Selwyn has been opposed
to these developments there because of concerns about unsustainable growth.
If there's a difference, though, the or Hawker development includes
a school and or a retirement home, so I'm not
sure how they're going to make that call and or
a retirement home. And last year Independent Commissioners decided not

(04:33):
to give consent for this project because they didn't think
it would fit with or Hawker's existing rural nature and
also because as a lack of local jobs and a
lack of public transport there. They said at the time,
quote families were secondary school students, sporting interests and those
working in Rungi Order, Chiapoy or christ Church will travel
to meet their day to day needs end of quote.

(04:54):
So basically the decision not to give the Ohoker project
consent was for similar reasons as to why the Salmyn
Council doesn't want to barb that in massive four two
hundred house development. Two hundred these areas can't cope with
that kind of explosive growth and it would just turn
them into dormitories. But I know the developers with their

(05:18):
noses out of joint, they run to the government and
they've said pass pickass and the Government's decided, yep, you're
on the list. And I think it is very short sighted.
I think the government's been reckless and I also think
it'll do nothing to change the minds of people who
think that this whole fast track thing is nothing more

(05:38):
than the government riding roughshod just to please its mates.

Speaker 1 (05:44):
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