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| -rw-r--r-- | assignment3/background.tex | 48 |
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diff --git a/assignment3/background.tex b/assignment3/background.tex index a7f7736..72070e6 100644 --- a/assignment3/background.tex +++ b/assignment3/background.tex @@ -303,35 +303,33 @@ Court \parencite{goldenlink-appeal}. \subsection{The commoditisation of resource consents} -The evaluation of the positive effects of the mining proposal may also -have been influenced to some degree by Newmont's previous financial -commitment to the community by funding local primary school and -preschool facilities and providing \$400,000 for Waihi residents to -spend on community amenities \parencite{goldenlink-appeal}. - -% TODO: easy to buy off directly affected people -- outcome is not sustainable - -%- side agreements: applicants can buy consent by paying directly -% affected people, incurring poor environmental outcomes for the -% community or future generations. \parencite{PCE1998} -% -% \begin{quote} -% The environmental risks associated with side agreements depend on -% the council’s knowledge and treatment of any contractual -% arrangements by consent applicants. Good practice by the consent -% authority can help to minimise these risks. For example, where a -% private agreement does not necessarily result in effects on the -% environment being mitigated, consent authorities should impose -% appropriate conditions to mitigate these effects. -% \end{quote} \parencite[][p 9]{PCE1998} -% -%- wider example may be the golden link mine where the applicant -% promised to do unrelated work for the community to secure approval - +According to the \textcite{PCE1998}, the RMA creates a climate in +which there are incentives for applicants to enter into so-called side +agreements with directly affected persons, as through early +consultation and mediation with the affected party public notification +(and with it long delays) can be avoided. While the goal of the +resource consent process is to lead to environmentally sustainable +outcomes, the existence of side agreements may result in worse +environmental outcomes, for example when affected parties receive +financial compensation in return for their approval of an +environmentally harmful development. + +Likewise, the evaluation of the positive effects of the mining +proposal may have been influenced to some degree by Newmont's previous +financial commitment to the community by funding local primary school +and preschool facilities and providing \$400,000 for Waihi residents +to spend on community amenities \parencite{goldenlink-appeal}. These +payments may benefit the general community and sway the public's +attitude towards the proposal, but it does not necessarily compensate +those who are directly affected by the proposed activities (if they +are willing to receive compensation in exchange for accepting the +proposal at all). \subsection{The value of submissions from the public} +It would not be fair to deduce from this case study that economic +benefit usually outweighs the concerns of the public. % Dunedin waterside hotel |