Mike's Minute: Fast-track needs to get back to infrastructure, not housing
The prediction we made some weeks back over fast-track housing is starting to come true.
Fast-track in and of itself is working. The Tauranga Port has the green light after literally years of regulatory BS that had it tied up in court, going nowhere.
If you put RMA v fast-track, then fast-track wins hands down and our country will be better for it.
But housing is becoming political. The latest situation is in Waimauku.
In Pukeatua they want 1600 homes. A petition has been signed by hundreds, furious at what they see.
It joins Delmore in North Auckland, Pegasus in Christchurch, and the Arrowtown development, all of which have the same blueprint – a lot of houses and angry locals.
Obviously, you can lay the charge of nimbyism, and in some cases it may well be true.
The very thing that stopped so much progress is back for more under new rules: moaning locals.
Shane Jones has spotted it though he argues, and I think correctly, that what NZ First had envisaged was more infrastructure, not so much housing.
What this country needs is more bridges and roads and mines and factories. Yes, it needs houses, but not in the same proportion.
Mayors have now joined forces and are after change, and if you want to look at this purely from a political point of view, then the Government would be wise to listen.
Somewhere between the neighbours hating everything new and a Delmore with 1000 houses getting wastewater trucked out until 2050, is an answer.
But it can't be so hard to shift housing out of fast-track and leave it for the big stuff.
I think Chris Bishop gets it as well. The fact Pegasus in Christchurch never actually got to an expert panel tells you he sees the trouble ahead.
If Delmore can be given the go ahead then why would Pegasus not? Well, problem solved by never giving it to the panel in the first place.
Fast-track needs, apart from anything, reputational heft. It needs to be seen to be doing good.
Housing clearly is getting in the way.
Sort it now and save yourself a headache post-election.
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