1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,640 Speaker 1: The government's proposing changes to the Public Works Act to 2 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:06,400 Speaker 1: speed up how it acquires private land. So if your 3 00:00:06,480 --> 00:00:08,720 Speaker 1: land needs to be acquired, there is a new premium 4 00:00:08,800 --> 00:00:13,039 Speaker 1: payment scheme which would be introduced, rewarding landowners who settle quickly. 5 00:00:13,640 --> 00:00:15,800 Speaker 1: And at the end of it all, the Environment Court 6 00:00:15,800 --> 00:00:17,599 Speaker 1: will no longer hear objections that will go to the 7 00:00:17,640 --> 00:00:21,040 Speaker 1: Minister and others in Council. Infrastructure you see on Policy 8 00:00:21,040 --> 00:00:23,400 Speaker 1: Director Michelle McCormack has worken up for us this morning. 9 00:00:23,400 --> 00:00:26,560 Speaker 1: Hello Michelle, Good morning Andrew. Is this everything you want? 10 00:00:27,440 --> 00:00:28,320 Speaker 2: Oh? Pretty much? 11 00:00:28,320 --> 00:00:28,360 Speaker 1: So. 12 00:00:28,640 --> 00:00:30,760 Speaker 2: I think it's a big step in the right direction. 13 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:33,960 Speaker 2: It's pretty ancient legislation, the Public Workfect, and it's good 14 00:00:33,960 --> 00:00:36,720 Speaker 2: to see a fresh look at it in looking how 15 00:00:36,720 --> 00:00:39,080 Speaker 2: we can improve the process and make sure that we 16 00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:42,680 Speaker 2: are getting the strategic infrastructure faster that we need. 17 00:00:42,920 --> 00:00:46,839 Speaker 1: Do we have some constructive, some concrete proposals that are 18 00:00:46,840 --> 00:00:48,400 Speaker 1: on the table that will benefit from this. 19 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:52,280 Speaker 2: A differently. Yeah, the ones that are in the Fast 20 00:00:52,280 --> 00:00:55,760 Speaker 2: Trek Approvals Act now, so that's our roads of national 21 00:00:55,800 --> 00:01:01,400 Speaker 2: significance and some of the other big projects that are 22 00:01:01,480 --> 00:01:04,479 Speaker 2: actually public infrastructure works will be lined up to further 23 00:01:04,520 --> 00:01:07,240 Speaker 2: down the track. And that will really shave us off 24 00:01:07,319 --> 00:01:10,720 Speaker 2: some time and make the whole process a lot quicker, 25 00:01:11,160 --> 00:01:13,840 Speaker 2: so construction can get underway and then we end up 26 00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:15,679 Speaker 2: with the finished products soon. 27 00:01:15,959 --> 00:01:19,160 Speaker 1: Yes. The only example I remember in my lifetime was 28 00:01:19,160 --> 00:01:22,160 Speaker 1: in fact, taking all the land beside the Pakranger Highway 29 00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:24,960 Speaker 1: to make the busway that goes out towards Botany where. 30 00:01:24,959 --> 00:01:27,679 Speaker 1: All those houses just disappeared, they were just taken. Would 31 00:01:27,680 --> 00:01:30,240 Speaker 1: this have made that process faster and easier. 32 00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:33,080 Speaker 2: Yes, it would, And it's good to see that there 33 00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:36,840 Speaker 2: is an incentive payment now being offered where people are affected. 34 00:01:37,280 --> 00:01:39,800 Speaker 2: When a project like that needs to acquire land, they 35 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:44,240 Speaker 2: actually have the option to sell voluntarily early without actually 36 00:01:44,240 --> 00:01:47,600 Speaker 2: being compulsory acquired, and they will get that incentive payment 37 00:01:47,720 --> 00:01:50,160 Speaker 2: which is up to fifteen percent of leaned value. 38 00:01:50,280 --> 00:01:52,080 Speaker 1: Of course they're going to take away the environment caught 39 00:01:52,440 --> 00:01:56,040 Speaker 1: as a court of appeal, which we all know that 40 00:01:56,040 --> 00:01:58,000 Speaker 1: that can take forever and cost of fortune. 41 00:01:58,960 --> 00:02:01,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think that's a big improvement. We know how 42 00:02:02,160 --> 00:02:04,640 Speaker 2: overloaded the Environment court is, and I think having a 43 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:07,760 Speaker 2: much streamlined process to get to that final decision is 44 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:10,160 Speaker 2: actually better for everyone. That's better for the project, and 45 00:02:10,200 --> 00:02:13,079 Speaker 2: it's better for the people affected too, because they'll get 46 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:14,359 Speaker 2: an outcome sooner. 47 00:02:14,320 --> 00:02:16,640 Speaker 1: It effects of the If it's going to positively affect 48 00:02:16,680 --> 00:02:18,600 Speaker 1: all the big infrastructure projects, why don't we get rid 49 00:02:18,600 --> 00:02:19,919 Speaker 1: of the environment caught altogether. 50 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:23,040 Speaker 2: I think we still need the Environment Court for the 51 00:02:23,080 --> 00:02:28,040 Speaker 2: wider rama processes, and there's a number of other approval 52 00:02:28,080 --> 00:02:30,560 Speaker 2: processes that they are involved in as well. But I 53 00:02:30,600 --> 00:02:33,880 Speaker 2: think in this case, where these projects have been through 54 00:02:33,919 --> 00:02:37,920 Speaker 2: that consenting approval process or in designation and then the 55 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:41,239 Speaker 2: last process is acquiring the land, I think it makes 56 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:44,040 Speaker 2: sense to have a streamline process with ministerial approval. 57 00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:46,520 Speaker 1: And is this all the great idea until we get 58 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:49,440 Speaker 1: one bad decision or a perceived allegation of bias from 59 00:02:49,480 --> 00:02:51,639 Speaker 1: a minister who is now the final court of appeal. 60 00:02:53,080 --> 00:02:57,239 Speaker 2: Yeah, there is the alternative of having a judicial review 61 00:02:57,320 --> 00:03:00,280 Speaker 2: if we know that someone does think that has been 62 00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:04,080 Speaker 2: a particularly bad decision. But I think given that the 63 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:09,440 Speaker 2: project itself has been tested well and head consenting approval given, 64 00:03:09,760 --> 00:03:13,680 Speaker 2: then it is pretty much streamlined now, so you won't 65 00:03:13,680 --> 00:03:16,760 Speaker 2: get one land owner holding out a whole project and 66 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:19,560 Speaker 2: costing millions and millions of dollars to the rest of 67 00:03:20,040 --> 00:03:20,639 Speaker 2: the community. 68 00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:23,200 Speaker 1: Well, Michelle have yourself a great duate work in a 69 00:03:23,200 --> 00:03:26,679 Speaker 1: great week at work, being productive and creating infrastructure, and 70 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:28,760 Speaker 1: I thank you so much at Michell McCormick is the 71 00:03:28,760 --> 00:03:30,560 Speaker 1: Infrastructure New Zealand Policy Director. 72 00:03:31,440 --> 00:03:34,400 Speaker 2: For more from Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, listen live 73 00:03:34,520 --> 00:03:37,520 Speaker 2: to news talks that be from five am weekdays, or 74 00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:39,520 Speaker 2: follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.