Buddle Findlay is pleased to have helped the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) achieve settlement of a dispute with Glenpanel Development Limited (GDL). The dispute concerned an application by GDL for fast-track consenting in relation to the Flint's Park Ladies Mile project, which is a referred project for a housing development near Queenstown, under the (now repealed) COVID-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting) Act 2020 (Act).
An expert consenting panel was reconsidering GDL's application pursuant to a direction of the Court of Appeal in May 2025. However, in June 2025 the EPA, which acts as secretariat to the panel, suspended the processing of that reconsideration. The suspension occurred under clause 6(2) of Schedule 6 of the Act, which allows the EPA to suspend processing if costs recoverable by the EPA have not been paid.
GDL filed a judicial review application, challenging the suspension on the basis that the unpaid costs were disputed and the subject of an extant appeal. The Wellington High Court scheduled an urgent judicial review hearing on 20 August. However, the hearing did not need to go ahead because the parties agreed to settle the proceeding. Consequently, the panel has now resumed its reconsideration of GDL's application. Further details about the application can be found here.
