Fast-track | Hamilton City Council

Fast-track is a Government-led process that enables regionally and nationally significant infrastructure and development projects to progress more quickly.

Fast-track approvals are not made by Hamilton City Council. Decisions are made through a separate Government process.

This page explains what Fast-track is, Council's role in the process, and provides answers to common questions about projects that may affect Hamilton and its community.

What is Fast-track?

The Fast-track Approvals Act 2024 established a central government-led process to help deliver infrastructure and development projects with regional or national significance more efficiently.

The process is administered by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), the Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport (MCERT), and independent Expert Panels. Central government determines which projects are considered regionally or nationally significant.

The Act provides two pathways:

Referral application – an application to the Minister for Infrastructure seeking access to the Fast-track process.
Substantive application – an application seeking approvals under one or more Acts, including resource consents and other statutory approvals.

Unlike standard planning processes, Fast-track enables applicants to seek multiple approvals through a single streamlined process.

For more information about the process, visit the Government’s Fast-track website.

What is Council's role?

Hamilton City Council is not the decision-maker in the Fast-track process. Decisions are made by independent Expert Panels through a process administered by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and the Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport (MCERT).

Council's role is limited to providing technical advice and local information, including comments on applications, infrastructure matters, and other issues specified in the Fast-track Approvals Act. Council may also be asked to provide input by the EPA, an Expert Panel, or an applicant during the assessment process.

As the process is administered by central government, requests for information on Fast-track applications may need to be directed to the EPA or MCERT.

Who does what?

Applicant

prepares and submits the Fast-track application
pays for the studies and assessments needed to support the proposal
works with councils, infrastructure providers and other organisations that may be affected by the project.

Hamilton City Council

provides local knowledge about planning, growth and infrastructure
identifies potential impacts and risks for Hamilton
advocates for outcomes that support the city’s long-term interests.

Environmental Protection Authority

runs the Fast-track assessment process on behalf of central government.

Expert Panels and Government Ministers

make decisions under the Fast-track Approvals Act.

Information for applicants

If you are considering a Fast-track project that may affect Hamilton or Council infrastructure, we encourage you to engage with Council as early as possible.

Early discussions can help identify infrastructure requirements, funding arrangements, and planning issues before an application is formally lodged.

Current Fast-track projects

You can view projects currently progressing through the Fast-track process here.

Frequently asked questions

How can the community get involved?

Under section 53 of the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024, the Expert Panel may direct the EPA to invite written comments on substantive applications, no later than 10 working days after the expert panel is set up. This can include affected and adjacent landowners and whoever the Panel deems as appropriate. Otherwise, there are no conventional forms of engagement for the public.

Who decides whether a Fast-track project is approved?

Applications are assessed by an independent Expert Panel appointed through the Environmental Protection Authority, and in some cases the final decision is made by a Government Minister. This is different from most applications, which are usually decided by councils.

Why are Fast-track projects outside the city boundary challenging?

Many Fast-track projects affecting Hamilton are located outside the city boundary, in neighbouring districts. While these developments are outside Hamilton's jurisdiction, they may still rely on Hamilton's roads, water and wastewater networks, parks, and community facilities.

Where standard planning tools do not apply, Council relies on negotiation and commercial agreements with developers and partner councils. One key tool is a Private Development Agreement, which sets out who pays for infrastructure, how it will be delivered, and when it will be built.

These agreements help protect ratepayers and clarify responsibilities where legal funding mechanisms are limited.

What is a Private Development Agreement and why does it matter?

A Private Development Agreement is a negotiated commercial agreement between councils, water entities, and developers. It aligns development timing, infrastructure delivery, and funding arrangements.

It is an important way for Council to manage financial risk, ensure infrastructure is delivered, and avoid unfunded long-term costs.

Does Council accept infrastructure automatically once it is built?

No. While developers may fund and build infrastructure, ongoing responsibility for maintaining and operating assets can transfer to Council once they are vested. This creates long-term costs that Council must carefully consider.

Council assesses whether infrastructure meets required standards and whether the long-term operational impacts are acceptable before accepting ownership.