Streamlined Land Acquisition Boosts Infrastructure
The Government will get major infrastructure projects underway faster by speeding up land acquisition and delivering fairer payments for landowners, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop and Land Information Minister Chris Penk say.
“The Government is committed to a strong pipeline of critical infrastructure projects to boost economic growth and productivity. While the wider Public Works Act (PWA) overhaul is continuing and on track to be completed by early next year, today we’re announcing some immediate action,” Mr Penk says.
“In the coming months, we’ll be amending the PWA to accelerate the acquisition of land needed for the public projects that are listed in Schedule 2 of the Fast-track Approvals Act, and the Roads of National Significance listed in the Government Policy Statement on land transport 2024. It is intended that amendments will come into force six months before wider PWA review amendments.
“Public infrastructure projects up and down the country are often held up for years by overly complex, drawn-out processes for purchasing the land needed. This has meant that projects which would provide massive benefits for communities end up stalled, with the only action happening in courtrooms.”
“Basically, as a country, we’ve accepted too many reasons to say no. The result has been long, drawn-out legal battles over land acquisitions that have cost time, money and livelihoods. All New Zealanders deserve better – not only those who will benefit from a project, but also the people whose land is needed for it. It’s time to say yes to getting stuff done,” Mr Bishop says.
“We are going to overhaul the Public Works Act to tear down these roadblocks. As part of the reforms, we will put premium payments on the table for landowners whose land needs to be purchased for major public infrastructure projects, and we’ll create a streamlined objections process for nationally and regionally significant projects.”
The amended legislation will feature:
“Objections to the compulsory acquisition of land under the Public Works Act can massively slow down delivery of critical infrastructure projects, causing significant time delays and cost increases.
“These delays and cost increases are unacceptable, which is why the Government is prioritising amendments to the PWA related to critical infrastructure now,” Mr Bishop says.
“Over the past ten years, 49 objections have been received for compulsory land acquisitions just for NZ Transport Agency projects.
“The new accelerated objections process will mean we can work through any objections far more quickly. Then we can get on with delivering important infrastructure projects that will help grow our economy so New Zealanders can get ahead.”
The proposal supports the Coalition Agreement between National and New Zealand First to prioritise strategic infrastructure and simplify the planning system.
A draft Bill is expected to be introduced to Parliament in May, with the public invited to provide feedback through the select committee process.
Note to Editor:
https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/faster-fairer-land-acquisition-speed-infrastructure-delivery