Eastern Bay plan supports a bright future

Eastern Bay of Plenty councils have collaborated to develop a plan to provide a clear vision of where the region wants to be in the next 30-50 years,

The Bay of Plenty Regional Council said in a media statement the Eastern Bay of Plenty face plenty of opportunities and challenges with changes to technology, science, population demographics, society, the economy and the environment.

With that in mind, the region's councils have collaborated to develop the Eastern Bay - Beyond Today development plan which will sit alongside Bay of Connections, the regional growth strategy for the wider Bay of Plenty.

The strategy, and the associated implementation plan, have been adopted by the Kawerau, Whakatane and Opotiki District Councils and the Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

"It's an exciting time to be living in the Eastern Bay," said Bay of Plenty Regional Council chairman Doug Leeder said.

"There is so much potential here and we all need to ensure we maximise those opportunities to benefit all our communities, now and into the future."

The strategy's outcomes include that the Eastern Bay's kaimoana, recreational and commercial fishing, aquaculture and marine tourism thrive, that land, air, freshwater and geothermal resources sustain productivity, that the region's safe, secure and efficiently integrated transport links support its communities and economy, and the cultural and natural heritage is known, highly valued and actively managed.

"Working in partnership across the sub-region has some huge advantages," said Opotiki mayor John Forbes.

"Outcomes of this scale have benefits across the region. For example when Opotiki's aquaculture industry thrives, we all benefit. When sustainable fisheries are doing well, it is no single town that reaps the rewards, it's all of us."

Mr Forbes said working together rather than competing against each other meant they could succeed across the board and in more areas.

Other projects under way to achieve the plan's outcomes include a proposed container terminal in Kawerau.

It will enable heavy produce to be transported to and from the Port of Tauranga via rail.

Kawerau mayor Malcolm Campbell said it was positive to see business and industry across the sub-district working together to improve connectivity.

Whakatane mayor Tony Bonne said various projects under way in his district would contribute towards a positive future.

"Initiatives such as our urban stormwater upgrades, major water infrastructure upgrades for Edgecumbe and Te Teko, and the Sullivan Lake water quality initiative will contribute to a sustainable future for our communities."

The adopted strategy is the first version of Eastern Bay - Beyond Today to be developed.

It will be refreshed regularly as actions are completed and as communities, the economy and the environment change.

The full plan can be downloaded here.