New approach for managing the Bay’s biggest natural resource issues

For immediate release: 15 December 2009

Environment Bay of Plenty has today agreed that the draft of a high-level document that outlines management of the Bay of Plenty’s natural and physical resources during the next 10 years will be release for public consultation in February 2010.

The draft Regional Policy Statement (RPS) will be available and open for comment from 2 February 2010 until 2 April 2010.

The first Bay of Plenty Regional Policy Statement (produced in 1991) will remain operative until the second is approved, following a notified RPS, formal submissions and hearings and final approval.

Environment Bay of Plenty’s Policy and Planning Committee Chair Raewyn Bennett said the document was a critical tool in managing the region’s natural resources and took a more direct approach to managing the region’s resources including land, geothermal, air and water.

“Not only does it affect how we work, but it also affects the region’s district and city plans and resource consent applicants and holders. As a result there are very few people that wouldn’t be affected in some way.

“It is the most significant document this region produces in terms of resource management. It’s like the mother of all district plans,” she said.

“When we started reviewing the first RPS our stakeholders and communities told us they wanted this second version to be more directive and less open to interpretation,” she explained. ”It needed to get to the point.”

“This document is of huge significance to the people of this region. The Bay of Plenty is extremely lucky in having a huge wealth of natural resources, but with this goes the responsibility and challenges of ensuring they are well managed – now and in the future.

“Although we’ve focused on only the most significant natural resource issues – there are a lot of them. This is about our land, water, sea and the air that we breathe,” she said.

“Our communities need to be able to achieve what they want - socially, culturally and economically - while our environment is protected and enhanced,” she said.

ENDS

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