MEDIA RELEASE

Increase in submissions on future plan

Monday 10 May 2004

Environment Bay of Plenty has received 160 submissions on a major plan that sets its path for the next 10 years. That is four times more than it clocked up for last year’s annual plan.

Manager strategic support Ben O’Meara is pleased with the high level of response. It means next week’s hearings will now extend over two and a half days. Mr O’Meara says many of the submissions supported the regional council’s work and its intention to have more input into regional issues like roading and economic development.

The overall tone was quite positive, he says. “In the main, people think we’re doing a good job.” Key concerns included the Rotorua lakes, pest plants, waste and a need for more public transport, as well as alternatives like cycle ways.

The Draft Long Term Council Community Plan, the first of its kind, outlines what the regional council wants to do, and how much it will cost to do it, over the next decade. It incorporates the Annual Plan for the 2004-5 financial year, which starts in July.

Submissions for the plan closed on Wednesday 5 May, with hearings to start on Monday 17 May. The draft plan will be finalised and adopted in late and comes into effect on July 1.

ENDS

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