Welcome to the February Issue of CS-VUE News and Updates

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CS-VUE News and Updates for February
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Hi CS-VUE Subscriber,

Welcome to the CS-VUE news and updates for February.

In this issue we have a brief summary of RMA enforcement to date, By The Numbers, as well as latest updates from the Andrew.Stewart Group .

In this issue

	CS-VUE WINE DRAW WINNER

	RMA ENFORCEMENT TO DATE

	BY THE NUMBERS

	ANDREW.STEWART GROUP UPDATE

	CS-VUE SUPPORT

CS-VUE WINE DRAW WINNER

Thanks to everyone for taking part in our online survey, we really appreciate it.

Congratulations to John Gibbons Davies of Tauranga City Council for winning the prize draw; a nice bottle of wine will be heading over to you very shortly.

The next survey should be up in three months, be sure to look out for it on the top right hand side of your screen once you have logged into CS-VUE.

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RMA ENFORCEMENT TO DATE

Below is a brief summary of the most significant fines since the RMA was enacted in 1991, as well as the key proposed changes to the RMA going forward with regards to enforcement. There is a strong trend towards increasing severity of penalties and consideration of prison sentences for repeat offenders.

1991 - 2001

TOP THREE FINES $50k, $30k, $27k

2001 - 2005

TOP THREE FINES $55K, $45K, $35K

2007

TOP THREE FINES $116k, $86k, $55k

2008

TOP THREE FINES $120k, $67k, 6 WEEKS IN JAIL
Trevor Mallard recommends 2 years in prison

2009 Proposed changes to the NZ RMA include:

Raising the maximum corporate fine from $200,000 to $600,000 and up to $300,000 for private individuals
Providing the Court with the power to require a review of a resource consent held by an offender

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BY THE NUMBERS

By the Numbers - AU Historic trial: Farmer fined $400k for land clearing
One of Australia's biggest cases of illegal land clearing has resulted in a $408,000 fine for a New South Wales landowner. (Read on ...)

NZ Ignorance, Stupidity or Calculated Risk?
A string of recent incidents where farmers have committed what amounts to environmental vandalism without a resource consent has bemused and disappointed Environment Southland's compliance staff. (Read on ...)

NZ Stopping Effluent Spillage on Southland Roads
Given the tensions that billowed last winter when three transport operators were prosecuted and fined for spilling effluent on Southland roads while shifting stock for winter grazing, Environment Southland is putting effluent disposal processes in place early this year. (Read on ...)

NZ Reminder for Water Consent Holders in Greater Wellington
Greater Wellington is reminding water consent holders to be aware of the conditions of their consents, after an Environment Court Judge fined Masterton District Council and Master Roads & Services for breaching consent conditions associated with the operation of Henley Lake. (Read on ...)

NZ Dropping River Levels Mean Water Consents at Risk in Marlborough
The long summer dry spell is beginning to bite and, with dropping water levels, the Marlborough District Council is preparing to restrict water take from the region's rivers. (Read on ...)

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ANDREW.STEWART GROUP UPDATE

ANDREW.STEWART LTD UPDATE

The most notable news of this month is the Resource Management Act Amendment Bill 2009, which sets out to streamline and simplify the RMA.

Aaron Andrew, Managing Director of Andrew.Stewart Ltd, will be contributing to the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development submission in relation to the RMA Amendment Bill currently before Parliament.

The RMA reform will have far and wide implications for all parties engaged in large-scale infrastructure projects, including Andrew Stewart Ltd.

CARBON GROUP UPDATE

Keeping with the statutory lobby theme; in February, CarbonGroup made a submission to the Select Committee regarding the Emissions Trading Scheme Review.

The review, prompted by Rodney Hide, is expected to result in minor changes to the legislation, but anyone expecting a fundamental shift in NZ's climate change response is likely to be disappointed.

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CS-VUE SUPPORT

CS-VUE continually innovates!

If you have any suggestions about future enhancements or improvements, please let us know.

Our technical team will review all development ideas, and as always, we roll-out product updates to all of the CS-VUE community - meaning everyone benefits.

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CS-VUE Auckland office - Resource Management Technology Group Limited

Level 2, 45 Sale Street Auckland Central PO Box 911 310 Auckland Mail Centre	Phone: 09 984 7758 Fax: 09 984 7741 Sales: Adrian Bullen Sales: Jasmine Dickenson