Like I said....rules can and do change...
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I agree with easy money, it's not a question of Key helping Chris Castle at all, but of the government living up to its election policy of facilitating business development and investment, including controversial reforms to the RMA. Key got flak from many quarters on the casino issue, but most significantly he got no support from his two most powerful ministers (Joyce and English) or from the business community (Akld Chamber of Commerce). Joyce would have been backing the CRP application, as shown by his ministry's award of research funding to the company while it was before the DMC, and his opinion carries a lot of weight. Like MAC, I doubt if there is a strong case for High Court appeal. But tweaking the EPA's legislation could well be on the cards. That doesn't mean gutting it, but making it a bit easier for "uncertainties" to be resolved, even if it means modifying and prolonging the hearing process.
Smith and Bridges undertaking a full review of the legislation, to ensure it is 'fit for purpose', but, of course, it's not in response to any particular recent cases :ohmy: - TV One news tonight
Sounds like a change to the rules will be forthcoming to me.........
Thanks Xerof, found a link;
http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/urge...-going-6237068
Personally I think Key will be risking his political future by changing the role & independence of the EPA.
Recently they have had to capitulate on their restructure of DOC only done 18 months ago, back track on their position on the convention centre/casino & then has the Mike Sabin thing hanging over him like a bad smell. I live in Northland & it will certainly be interesting how the byelection goes.
I should add I am not anti mining, quite the opposite in fact. I worked in commodity trading & mine finance for 15 years.
However the mining needs to b appropriate & this & the TTR application are miles below where the bar needs to be set.
These sort of projects would not be approved in a very pro mining jurisdiction such as Australia. Mind you, you never know under that idiot Abbott.
Question Time should be illuminating today:
DAVID SEYMOUR to the Minister for the Environment: Is he confident that the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Act 2012 is fit for purpose, in light of the Environmental Protection Authority rejecting both the recent ironsands and phosphate seabed mining applications?
https://www.nzx.com/companies/CRP/announcements/260802
There's a lot of accusations and strong words in the above announcement. I'm not sure I'd agree CRP are "in a strong position", or being back to company value 5 years ago is a good thing, but generally there are a a great deal of valid points made against the general process involved. Discussions about law changes and review of the EPA, make up of the DMC, all very interesting with the recent question put to the minister and news articles. I don't know if this will translate into anything more substantial.
Though my favourite quote would have to be near the end (in response to claims removing the phosphate would reduce fertility of the seabed):
"...no fish species have ever been observed eating rock phosphate nodules."