Outdated planning processes have not helped us respond to climate change
OPINION: Devastating floods left parts of the country sodden and reeling, and climate scientists are warning were going to see more of it. They are critical of some local councils who they say are consenting more housing developments in at-risk areas, creating future problems. Is housing pressure pushing us to build where we shouldnt and what can be done? An MP from each side of the house gives their views. Stuart Smith, National MP Kaikoura The South Island has been incredibly unfortunate to be ravaged by floods over the last few months. Many people in Canterbury were badly effected back in late May, and more recently in the past week the Marlborough and West Coast have also been hit hard by heavy rain. It is also obvious that homes have been built in areas that are flood prone. However, rather than focus on past mistakes we must deal with the current situation and where appropriate retreat or mitigate. We need to assess where it is economically sensible to improve flood protection and where it is not. In the latter case we should retreat, and that will require community support for those affected. READ MORE: * There is no single solution to the housing crisis, innovative build-to-rents are needed * Extreme weather events remind us how vulnerable we are and why we need to prepare accordingly * Every day the people of South Auckland shield our country from Covid - they deserve our support and understanding It is very interesting that there has been much comment in the media that the recent flooding events are as a result of our planet warming through climate change. As they say, never let a crisis go to waste. Unfortunately, so-called experts take these opportunities to postulate that these events are due to climate change without supporting evidence, hoping that the public will not bother to consider the validity of their claims. Tailrisk Economics recently published their review of the Government's National Climate Change Risk Assessment (NCCRA) which was delivered by the Ministry for the Environment. This assessment is supposed to be the foundation on which climate policies are built on and incredibly important to every New Zealander as actions taken to mitigate climate change will inevitably impact on our way of life. It should be of great concern to everyone that the Tailrisk review concluded Our full review of the hundreds of references cited to support the NCCRA conclusions found that many were irrelevant or did not support the arguments. Critical research reports that did not support a catastrophist narrative were often ignored. In some cases, steps were taken to cover up inconvenient evidence. For example, the NIWA flood risk study shows flooding risk would actually fall as the climate got warmer. Sadly, the NCCRA ignored this important evidence, so the report is effectively an expensive load of rubbish. Our Councils assess flood risk as a part of the consenting process and rely on advice from MfE for this process. Unfortunately, the latest NCCRA will not be able to be used in this vital process. This is simply not good enough, we have the right to expect that our Government departments will follow best practice when writing such reports rather than starting with a predetermined position and writing a report to support it. Climate change is happening, and we must reduce our emissions, but there is no need to overinflate the impact without robust scientific evidence to back the assumptions. We deserve far better than this, after all they work for us, not the other way around. Arena Williams, Labour MP Manurewa Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. Recent flooding on the West Coast was yet another reminder of this, disrupting communities and putting further pressure on farmers at a busy time. I understand some climate scientists have been critical of councils for consenting housing developments in at-risk areas. There are measures in place to prevent people building in flood-prone areas, such as land use restrictions and district plan rules. People may still be building unsustainably, but not necessarily because of housing pressure. Outdated planning processes are complex and costly, and they have not helped us respond to climate change. Thats why the Government is delivering on its promise to repeal and replace the Resource Management Act, based on the findings of a comprehensive review carried out last year. Urban areas are struggling to keep pace with population growth and housing demand, and theres an urgent need to reduce carbon emissions and adapt to climate change. New laws will improve the natural environment, enable more development within environmental limits, and improve housing supply. Theyll help us both ward off and prepare for the effects of climate change. Budget 2021 provided more than $130 million for the design, enactment, transition, and initial implementation of the reforms over the next three years so they can be delivered effectively. Last month an exposure draft of the new Natural and Built Environments Act was released, which describes key parts of the primary replacement for the Resource Management Act. A select committee will consider this draft over coming months, with a bill to be introduced early next year. These reforms build on the National Policy Statement for Urban Development released last year that directs councils to make room for growth both up and out, enabling more supply in a way that encourages well-functioning, liveable urban environments. The Government is also supporting future housing developments in the right areas by working with councils to identify infrastructure needs and ensure they align with our wider priorities like good urban planning and the transition to a low-emissions economy. How we define a good place to build has changed over time and will continue to. Getting that definition right requires a principled framework, and modern tools and processes to apply it. Im confident this new resource management system will strike a balance, helping us to protect our environment, improve housing supply, and respond to climate change.