An urban planner's giving the proposed Resource Management Act a big thumbs up, calling the reforms awesome and fantastic.   

The Government's confirmed the current RMA will be replaced by two pieces of legislation, one for the environment and one for planning. 

They'll be phased in by 2029.  

Independent urban planner and strategic development expert Bruce Weir told Andrew Dickens there will always be hiccups, but the changes are great.  

He says the compensation element of the changes could be a headache, however previous planning rules were frustrating and full of nonsense. 

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