Community consultation in the resource management can be defined as the one that “entails the deliberate and purposeful engagement of the community by means of consultation (during strategic planning, development of core business strategies, transformation management, assessment of services delivery”, and other key activities (Muller, Jooste, & Bezuidenhout, 2006, p. 18).
Different authors understand community consultation in different ways, especially applied to the concept of resource management and the Resource Management Act 1991in New Zealand that became one of the most controversial documents that guides authorities in sustainable management and use of natural resources. As such, the Resource Management Act 1991 is treated as a legislature in the domain of natural and physical resources though community consultation is often acted out in the form of hearings of the case in the court. For instance, Gardiner and Harrowell (2001) report about the consent to be granted on the project and one of the reasons for this is that “The proposal is consistent with the Resource Management Act 1991” (par. 4). However, this document can also be regarded as the basic act that guarantees safety of natural resources though it is imperfect to be the only one to stipulate people’s rights concerning the use of resources including the community consultation which is fulfilled through meetings and hearings.
Roxburgh (2011) and Anderson (2011) claim that the Resource Management Act 1991 needs development with regard to the number of unsatisfied people that want to use natural resources with specific purpose while authorities prevent them from doing so based on the articles of the abovementioned Act 1991.
Urban planning is discussed by Perkins and Thorns (2001) in the framework of the Resource Management Act 1991 which does not seem to be complete because different controversies emerge in the process of planning various projects where planning, zoning, or use of resources is involved. “Town and country planning legislation” became the major focus of the article written by Memon and Gleeson (1995) where they analyse the environmental planning in New Zealand and legislation that can enforce righteous use of all resources. In this respect, most of the community consultation faces inappropriate interpretation of the imperfect Resource Management Act 1991 with regard to the understanding of this document by the authorities on different levels.
As reported by Howitt (2011), community consultation may fail to inform the population about possible changes in the use of resources thus making people argue about the appropriateness of land or water use. Besides, communities should be able to apply the legislative acts to the practical situations. O the other hand, Palmer (1995) claims that the Resource Management Act 1991 in New Zealand is aimed at regulating the use of resources as it is “a single system which promotes the sustainable management of all natural and human resources” (p. 145). In this respect, community consultation may be omitted as it is not considered to be the factor that affects legislative acts. Moreover, community consultation as applied to the Resource Management Act 1991 is based on informing people about the project and receiving consent of the public regarding the way resources are planned to be used.
Community consultation in resource management is important because all projects affect people and their environment whereas activity of information groups, forums, and lobby groups can be aimed at misinforming people about the genuine effects of the projects. As such, the concept of community consultation remains a matter of consent when applied to resource management.
References
Anderson, V. (2011). Fracking: Yes or no?The Press. Web.
Gardiner, R., & Harrowell, C. (2011). Residents’ concerns sidelined. Times Online. Web.
Howitt, R. (2001). Rethinking resource management: Justice, sustainability and indigenous peoples. London: Routledge.
Memon, P. A., & Gleeson, B. J. (1995). Towards a new planning paradigm? Reflections on New Zealand’s Resource Management Act. Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design 22(1), 109 – 124.
Muller, M., Jooste, K., & Bezuidenhout, M. (2006). Health care service management. Cape Town: Juta and Company Ltd.
Palmer, G. W. R. (1995). Environment: The international challenge. Wellington: Victoria University Press.
Perkins, H. C., & Thorns, D. C. (2001). A decade on: Reflections on the Resource Management Act 1991 and the practice of urban planning in New Zealand. Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design 28(5) 639 – 654.
Roxburgh, T. (2011). Application for housing to maintain ‘viability’.Otago Daily Times. Web.