Michelle McCormick: Infrastructure NZ Policy Director on the changes to the Public Works Act

What's being described as "ancient" infrastructure legislation is in for a shake-up. 

The Government's pitching changes to the Public Works Act to speed up acquiring land for major projects, including premium payments to private landowners. 

The Environment Court will no longer hear objections, but instead relevant authorities like the Minister for Land Information. 

Infrastructure New Zealand Policy Director Michelle McCormick told Andrew Dickens removing the Environment Court is a big improvement. 

She says we all know how over-loaded the court is. 

McCormick says it's good to take a fresh look at how the process could be improved, to ensure we're getting the infrastructure we need faster. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
The government's proposing changes to the Public Works Act to
speed up how it acquires private land. So if your
land needs to be acquired, there is a new premium
payment scheme which would be introduced, rewarding landowners who settle quickly.
And at the end of it all, the Environment Court
will no longer hear objections that will go to the
Minister and others in Council. Infrastructure you see on Policy

(00:21):
Director Michelle McCormack has worken up for us this morning.
Hello Michelle, Good morning Andrew. Is this everything you want?

Speaker 2 (00:27):
Oh? Pretty much?

Speaker 1 (00:28):
So.

Speaker 2 (00:28):
I think it's a big step in the right direction.
It's pretty ancient legislation, the Public Workfect, and it's good
to see a fresh look at it in looking how
we can improve the process and make sure that we
are getting the strategic infrastructure faster that we need.

Speaker 1 (00:42):
Do we have some constructive, some concrete proposals that are
on the table that will benefit from this.

Speaker 2 (00:49):
A differently. Yeah, the ones that are in the Fast
Trek Approvals Act now, so that's our roads of national
significance and some of the other big projects that are
actually public infrastructure works will be lined up to further
down the track. And that will really shave us off
some time and make the whole process a lot quicker,

(01:11):
so construction can get underway and then we end up
with the finished products soon.

Speaker 1 (01:15):
Yes. The only example I remember in my lifetime was
in fact, taking all the land beside the Pakranger Highway
to make the busway that goes out towards Botany where.
All those houses just disappeared, they were just taken. Would
this have made that process faster and easier.

Speaker 2 (01:31):
Yes, it would, And it's good to see that there
is an incentive payment now being offered where people are affected.
When a project like that needs to acquire land, they
actually have the option to sell voluntarily early without actually
being compulsory acquired, and they will get that incentive payment
which is up to fifteen percent of leaned value.

Speaker 1 (01:50):
Of course they're going to take away the environment caught
as a court of appeal, which we all know that
that can take forever and cost of fortune.

Speaker 2 (01:58):
Yeah, I think that's a big improvement. We know how
overloaded the Environment court is, and I think having a
much streamlined process to get to that final decision is
actually better for everyone. That's better for the project, and
it's better for the people affected too, because they'll get
an outcome sooner.

Speaker 1 (02:14):
It effects of the If it's going to positively affect
all the big infrastructure projects, why don't we get rid
of the environment caught altogether.

Speaker 2 (02:21):
I think we still need the Environment Court for the
wider rama processes, and there's a number of other approval
processes that they are involved in as well. But I
think in this case, where these projects have been through
that consenting approval process or in designation and then the
last process is acquiring the land, I think it makes

(02:41):
sense to have a streamline process with ministerial approval.

Speaker 1 (02:44):
And is this all the great idea until we get
one bad decision or a perceived allegation of bias from
a minister who is now the final court of appeal.

Speaker 2 (02:53):
Yeah, there is the alternative of having a judicial review
if we know that someone does think that has been
a particularly bad decision. But I think given that the
project itself has been tested well and head consenting approval given,
then it is pretty much streamlined now, so you won't

(03:13):
get one land owner holding out a whole project and
costing millions and millions of dollars to the rest of
the community.

Speaker 1 (03:21):
Well, Michelle have yourself a great duate work in a
great week at work, being productive and creating infrastructure, and
I thank you so much at Michell McCormick is the
Infrastructure New Zealand Policy Director.

Speaker 2 (03:31):
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