RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

By :

Stephen Christensen B.A., L.Lb. (Hons)

New Zealand Chairman of Anderson Llyod Law Partnership

1. Licenses of natural resource; utilization in New Zealand

Natural resource utilization governed by national legislation – the Resource Management

Act 1991 (RMA). At time of enactment (1991) was regarded internationally as a leading
environmental system. Important to remember the New Zealand only has just over 4 million
people, so pressure on natural resources therefore much less than Indonesia. However, the New
Zealand’s “Clean, Green” image means strong conflict between development and protection can
arise. Under RMA, some nationally important resources are controlled by central government. Most
resources are controlled by regional and territorial local government (Region = Province). Regions
control use of water, air and discharges. Territorial local authorities control land use and subdivision
(Territorial local government = city and district councils).

“Sustainable Management”

Foundation of RMA is concept of sustainable management. All decisions relating to natural

resources protection and utilization should promote sustainable management. Sustainable
management means enabling people and communities to provide to their social, economic and
cultural well being and for their health and safety while:

 Avoiding, remedying and mitigating adverse effects

 Providing for the reasonably foreseeable needs of future generations

“Regional and District Plans”

Is promoted through the development of regional and district plans contain general objectives and
policies concerning resource use. Plans also establish rules relating to individual activities. Rules
may make an activity permitted, there by allowing the activity to proceed without further
approval.
 “Resource Consents”

Where an activity is not expressly allowed or permitted by RMA or rule in a plan, a resource
consent is required. Application for resource consent must be made to the relevant regional
and/or district council. Application must be accompanied by an assessment of the environmental
effects of the proposal. No resource consent can be granted unless the decision-maker is satisfied
the proposal promotes sustainable management. Unless the effects of the proposal are no more
than minor, the proposal will be publicly notified. Universal rights of participation- anyone can
make a submission opposing or supporting proposal. Submission must state reasons or concerns.
The decision-maker will conduct a hearing. Applicant and submitters have the chance to speak in
support of their position and to call evidence. Decision-maker asks questions of participants. May
also have own independent advisors. Decision may be to decline consent or to grant consent with
or without conditions. Any party not satisfied with decision can appeal to specialist Environment
Court. Environment Court will hear application again on its merits. Any party can appeal on points
of law (but not merits) to High Court and with leave to Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. Major
contentious proposals can therefore be very slow and expensive. Resource consents for water and
discharges can be for no more than 35 years.

“Property Rights”

Resource consent creates right to use resource, but not access to the resource. Access may be
secured by owning relevant land, or land adjacent to water (where relevant). Access can be
negotiated with other land owner, but can not generally be compelled. Often land is purchased or
access rights obtained at a premium.

2. Land rehabilitation

All persons undertaking activities are required to avoid, remedy or mitigate adverse
environmental effects. Where an activity has an unavoidable adverse effect on land, it is usually a
requirement of resource consent that the land be rehabilitated. Where rehabilitation to prior state
impractical, then the expectation is that upon ending the activity the land will be restored to
another suitable sustainable use. It activity results in land contamination, this will need to be
remedied before surrender of consent. Bonds and other financial provisions are common resource
consent conditions.

“Macraes Gold Project”

It is a pre-mine land use-privately-owned pastoral farming. Company purchased land via willing
vendor/purchaser negotiation. Premiums were paid → mine comprises pits, waste rock dumps,
 tailings dams and a processing plant → progressive rehabilitation required during mine life → waste
rock dumps restored to pasture for grazing → no tailings allowed to leave mine site. Dams capped
and sown in pasture → pits backfilled as opportunity arises → open pits made safe and filled with
water → natural preservations.

3. Community compensation

Is where “public work” being constructed land can be compulsorily acquired. Process
requires agency undertaking work to pay fair value. Value can be assessed by specialist Land
Valuation Tribunal. Compensation also payable where value or ability to use land reduced because
of public work or where no “public work”, developer will be required to negotiate access to land-
often by paying a premium. Developer will be required to avoid, remedy or mitigate adverse effects
on community often a balancing of local benefits and costs, and regional/national benefits. For
major projects developer can afford to deal with community effects properly smaller proposals can
be more problematic. Techniques include community liaison groups, community surveys,
community funds, sponsorship, employment opportunities.

4. How to overcome conflict between the developer and the community

Expectation there will be consultation with affected community. “Consultation” has legal
meaning. Developer has to have an open mind and be prepared to make project modifications.
Community can participate in formal process. It is common for developer to have formalized
ongoing involvement with the community.

“Manapouri Power Scheme”

The original proposal to create huge lake to meet electricity demand from a new aluminium
smelter. Wide spread community opposition included petitions and marches on parliament.
Government modified proposal to reduce effects still resulted in major changes to river flow. The
community compensation gave by large trust funds. Ongoing “good citizen” work, ongoing
consultation requirement. Need regular reviews of consent conditions.
5. Environment law enforcement

 Informal

 Council-initiated reviews

 Infringement notices

 Abatement notices

 Enforcement orders

 Prosecution :

 Strict liability

 Principals liable for acts of agents

 Fines (up to NZD 2,000,000 / IDR 14,000,000,000)

 Imprisonment (up to 2 years)

 Court-ordered review of consent conditions

 MANAJEMEN SUMBER DAYA DAN PERMASALAHAN LINGKUNGAN
Oleh :

Stephen Christensen B.A., L.Lb. (Hons)

Ketua Lembaga Bantuan Hukum Anderson Llyod New Zealand

Rangkuman oleh :

Annissa Aprilia Fitriani (010108179) Semester V – Fakultas Hukum Universitas Pakuan

1. Perizinan Pemanfaatan Sumber Daya Alam di New Zealand

Pemanfaatan sumber daya alam di New Zealand diatur oleh hukum nasional – the Resource
Management Act 1991 (RMA); Undang-Undang Manajemen Sumber Daya Tahun 1991. Pada saat
disahkan tahun 1991 bertujuan sebagai sistem hukum lingkungan utama yang berskala
internasional. Perlu diingat bahwa New Zealand hanya berpenduduk sekitar 4 juta orang, sehingga
permasalahan mengenai pemanfaatan sumber daya alam di sana lebih sedikit dibandingkan dengan
Indonesia. Bagaimanapun, citra New Zealand sebagai Negara yang Hijau dan Bersih berarti
mengandung potensi terjadinya konflik yang kuat antara pihak pengembang dan perlindungan
masyarakat sekitar dapat mencuat. Di bawah RMA, beberapa sumber daya alam yang penting bagi
Negara dikuasai oleh pemerintah pusat. Sebagian besar sumber daya alam tersebut dikendalikan
oleh pemerintah provinsi dan daerah teritorial. Pemerintahan provinsi bertugas mengendalikan
pemanfaatan sumber daya air, udara, dan berbagai penyalahgunaannya. Pemerintahan daerah
teritorial berwenang mengendalikan pemanfaatan sumber daya lahan dan subdivisinya, dalam hal
ini para dewan kota dan distrik.

2. Rehabilitasi Lahan

Seluruh pihak yang terlibat dalam kegiatan tersebut harus ikut serta dalam pencegahan,
memulihkan atau mengurangi dampak kerusakan lingkungan yang timbulkan. Dimana suatu
aktivitas yang menimbulkan kerusakan yang tak terelakkan pada lahan, yang biasanya adalah
sebuah kebutuhan akan sebuah kebijakan pemanfaatan sumber daya terhadap lahan yang
direhabilitasi. Dimana rehabilitasi pada kenyataannya tidak praktis, maka harapannya adalah pada
akhir aktivitas lahan tersebut akan dialihfungsikan menjadi lahan yang produktif untuk penggunaan
yang berkelanjutan. Kegiatan tersebut tentunya akan mengkontaminasi lahan, hal ini akan
memerlukan pemulihan sebelum tunduk pada persetujuan. Surat perjanjian dan sejumlah dana lain
sebagai persyaratan adalah suatu kelengkapan dari permohonan izin pemanfaatan suatu sumber
daya.
 “Tambang Emas Macraes”

Sebelum menjadi lahan pertambangan merupakan sebuah lahan peternakan pribadi kependetaan.
Lalu sebuah perusahaan membelinya dari sebuah agen perantara. Setelah proses penambangan
selesai dilakukan, semua limbah/residunya tidak boleh ada yang tersisa dan harus dibersihkan. Jadi
setelah kegiatan penambangan selesai, lahan tersebut kembali dihijaukan dengan menyuburkan
tanahnya serta ditanami dengan berbagai tumbuhan.

3. Kompensasi Bagi Penduduk Sekitar

Dengan adanya kegiatan pemanfaatan lahan yang ditempati oleh penduduk di sekitarnya
maka mereka berhak atas sebuah kompensasi, misalnya saja sejumlah uang yang memadai,
lapangan pekerjaan ataupun penghidupan yang layak. Dan pihak pengembangpun wajib dan
bertanggungjawab penuh untuk menjaga kelestarian wilayah tersebut. Hal ini disebabkan Karen
lahan yang dimanfaatkan tersebut mendatangkan keuntungan/[endapatan bagi daerah dan Negara,
maka dari itu pihak masyarakat sekitar harus dilibatkan berperan serta dalam pengolahan sumber
daya tersebut.

4. Bagaimana Mengatasi Konflik Antara Pihak Pengembang dengan Pihak Masyarakat

Disini diperlukan adanya konsultasi/diskusi dengan penduduk sekitar yang terkena

dampaknya. “Konsultasi” ini memiliki makna hukum. Pihak pengembang harus bersikap terbuka
dan siap untuk merubah rencana proyek pembangunannya. Masyarakat sekitar dapat berpartisipasi
dalam proses hukum. Pihak pengembang harus terbiasa dengan proses hukum yang melibatkan
masyarakat sekitar.

“Pembangunan Pembangkit Listrik Manapouri”

Tujuan awalnya adalah untuk menciptakan danau besar buatan yang mengumpulkan pasokan listrik
dari tenaga peleburan aluminium yang baru. Penolakan masyarakat meluas termasuk pembacaan
petisi dan unjuk rasa terhadap parlemen dikarenakan pihak pemerintah yang merubah tujuan awal
pembangunan untuk mengurangi dampak-dampak terhadap lingkungan masih menimbulkan
perubahan drastis terhadap aliran sungai. Penduduk sekitar mendapatkan kompensasi yang
diberikan oleh sumber dana terpercaya dengan nominal yang besar. Dengan pengawasan
masyarakat sebagai warga negara yang baik, maka dibutuhkan pula konsultasi/dialog terbuka.
Diperlukan peninjauan berkala atas pemberian izin oleh pemerintah.
5. Penegakan Hukum Lingkungan

 Melalui cara informal

 Peninjauan oleh dewan kota

 Memberikan peringatan atas dilakukannya pelanggaran

 Pengurangan hukuman

 Perintah menegakkan hukuman

 Proses penuntutan :

 Adanya kepastian ganti rugi

 Ganti rugi mutlak atas tindakan menyimpang oleh agen-agen pengembang

 Hukuman denda (minimal NZD 2,000,000 atau setara dengan IDR 14,000,000,000)

 Pidana penjara (minimal 2 tahun)

 Tinjauan putusan Pengadilan atas pemberian izin