Commissioner for statutory hearings

Alan Bickers has extensive experience as an independent commissioner for hearing applications and submissions to territorial authorities, regional councils and Government organisations under the following legislation:

Resource Management Act 1991
Reserves Act 1977
Land Transport Management Act 2003
Local Government Act 2002

Alan combines his considerable experience as a Professional Engineer and as a Chief Executive in local government with legal training in the consideration and determination of a variety of statutory hearings. He is an accredited as a commissioner by the Ministry for the Environment, University of Auckland and Local Government New Zealand. He is a Fellow of the Arbitrators' and Mediators' Institute NZ and was accredited by AMINZ as an environmental mediator.

Alan has acted as an independent commissioner under the Resource Management Act for several territorial authorities, regional councils and the Minister of Conservation for hearing of applications for designations, resource consents and coastal permits, including:

Wastewater treatment and disposal
Water resources
Flood protection schemes
Landfills
Land transport projects
Subdivisions and developments
Public infrastructure projects
Coastal structures

He has experience in hearing public submissions to local authorities under the Reserves Act for reserves management plans. He has acted as commissioner under the Land Transport Management Act for hearings for proposed major land transport projects including:

Albany – Puhoi motorway (toll road)
Wellington Western Corridor (Transmission Gully)
Auckland Western Ring Route (toll route)
National Toll Project

In 2000 Alan was appointed by the Minister of Local Government as a Member of the Rodney District Council Review Authority under the Local Government Act. The Review which had the powers of a statutory Commission of Inquiry led to the unprecedented replacement of that Council with a commissioner until new elections were held.