Submissions in on Regional Council’s Draft Annual Plan
28 April 2014
More than 80 people and groups have made submissions to Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s draft Annual Plan.
Submissions closed on Thursday 17 April. Topics covered by submitters include wastewater treatment in the Rotorua Lakes
communities, mangrove removal in Tauranga Harbour, flood protection on the Waioeka-Otara rivers, a request for council
support for public art adjacent to the Tauranga Eastern Link road and a request for a new Kaitikati to Waihī Beach
summer bus service.
The Regional Council has proposed a general rates rise which will mean an average increase per property of $2 per year,
depending on where you live.
Its Draft Annual Plan for 2014/15 is based on Year Three of its Ten Year Plan, and sets out the Council’s key programmes
and projects for the coming year, how much they will cost and where funding will come from.
Targeted rates will continue for four specific areas of work – passenger transport in Tauranga and Rotorua urban areas,
Rotorua Lakes, Rotorua air in the city’s urban area and river and drainage schemes.
The Council is proposing operating expenditure of $95.5 million, which would allow for more spending in specific areas
such as water management, while reducing spending in other areas to reflect internal efficiency savings, Chairman Doug
Leeder said.
The Council would continue to use investment income to reduce general rates while maintaining levels of service, Mr
Leeder said.
Public hearings will be held in early May for those who wish to present their submission in person, and the Council will
deliberate on 29 May before adopting the final Annual Plan on 26 June.
Ends