NZ Government to ‘Fast Track’ 149 Resource and Energy Projects, Including 2 Coal Mines

The coalition government is to use its controversial ‘fast track’ legislation to bypass drawn-out environmental approvals and speed the development of coal.
NZ Government to ‘Fast Track’ 149 Resource and Energy Projects, Including 2 Coal Mines
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - MAY 01: Protesters march against Mining up Queen Street on May 1, 2010 in Auckland, New Zealand. The New Zealand Government is proposing to open up more than 7000 hectares of conservation land for mining on Coromandel, Paparoa and Stewart Island. Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images
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When the National/ACT/NZ First coalition government took power in New Zealand last year, one of its first pieces of legislation was a “Fast Track” Bill, which would bypass the usually lengthy process of scrutiny given to new infrastructure developments if they were considered to be in the national interest.

As part of that law, a schedule would list projects identified as eligible for the process, and today, the government released that list.

Rex Widerstrom
Rex Widerstrom
Author
Rex Widerstrom is a New Zealand-based reporter with over 40 years of experience in media, including radio and print. He is currently a presenter for Hutt Radio.
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