Mayor Stuart Crosby says he is thrilled that Maritime NZ's NOSC, Mick Courtnell, is lifting the restricted access notices for almost the entire stretch of coast from 6.00am tomorrow.
"This is the news we have all been waiting for', said Mayor Crosby. 'The beaches and coastline are the backbone of our economic livelihood over the summer and we want all holiday makers, event operators and locals to know that this means we are now officially back in business'.
The Rahui imposed by local iwi remains in place - shellfish, crayfish, crabs, kina and seaweed should not be collected and eaten until further notice.
Bay of Plenty tourism operators are looking forward to the summer season with the news that virtually all beaches will be open to the public on Wednesday, says Glenn Ormsby, Tourism Bay of Plenty general manager.
"This is just fantastic news. This announcement will provide assurance to the thousands of people who come to enjoy our region over the summer."
"We applaud the passion and commitment our community has demonstrated to get these beaches open again and we'd like to thank the thousands of people who volunteered their time to painstakingly clean-up. This is the first time ever volunteers have been used to assist with the clean-up of an oil spill - our beaches reflect their dedication and commitment," says Mr Ormsby.