We answer your questions about fast-track consenting under the COVID-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting) Act 2020 (FTCA).
The COVID-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting) Act 2020 (FTCA) came into effect on 9 July 2020 with the intention to fast-track projects to boost employment and economic recovery in response to Covid-19. Applications made under the FTCA had to meet eligibility criteria and be referred by the Minister for the Environment.
The legislation was repealed on 8 July 2023, but it will continue to apply to applications already received by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) until the application process is completed. Any referral orders in force on 7 July 2023 remain in force.
Applications made under the FTCA are lodged and processed by the EPA and an Expert Consenting Panel, not by Council under the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA). Under the FTCA, applications cannot be publicly or limited notified for submissions. Instead, an Expert Consenting Panel will invite comments from certain people and groups listed in the FTCA and from any other person it considers appropriate. The Expert Consenting Panel will identify those people it will seek comment from after the application has been lodged with the EPA. The EPA will then contact those people directly to invite their feedback.
The Act enables expert consenting panels to make decisions on the resource consent applications and notices of requirement, and to set conditions on the projects.
You can find more information on consenting under the COVID-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting) Act 2020 here.
Applications made under the FTCA on land in the Waikato District Council
Below is a list of FTCA projects that are proposing to be undertaken on land (either wholly or partially) in the Waikato district.
For more information on a particular project, click on the relevant link below.
- Rangiriri Solar Farm
- Rotokauri Greenway and minor arterial transport corridor
- Rotokauri North
- Waerenga Solar Farm
- Waiterimu solar farm
- Waiuku Wind Farm
