Environmental Protection Authority 'technically insolvent' over $10m govt loan

The EPA will not actually make decisions on fast-track projects such as mining. (Image: Waihi Leader)

Fri, 14 Feb 2025

The Environmental Protection Authority is now technically insolvent because it has a $10 million government loan to manage the new fast-track approvals process.The authority (EPA) wasn’t keen on taking on this job in the first place.EPA chief executive Allan Freeth told Parliament’s environment select committee on Feb 13 that, based on current projections for fast-track approval applications, the finances were sustainable, and the $10m loan would be repaid.The Crown agent has five years to repay the loan, funded by fast-track applic...

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