Collaboration the key to successful outcomes

31 August 2017

Bay of Plenty Regional Council works with communities, iwi and industry and local government partners at every opportunity and these efforts will continue in the coming year.

Council chair Doug Leeder says collaboration on the issues the Bay of Plenty faces leads to long-lasting decisions that will enhance the region’s unique environment. In 2017/18 the council has allocated 20 percent (more than $34 million) of its $171m annual budget in 2017/18 to collaborative projects. It will lead and support co-governance and community groups including the Ōhiwa Harbour Implementation Forum, Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group and Te Maru o Kaituna River Authority.

“We will continue to exercise our responsibilities around carrying out Treaty settlements,” Doug says. “These cover all 36 iwi, 260 hapū and 224 marae in the Bay of Plenty.”

The regional council also supports the Enviro-schools programme and the community through grants such as:

• $100,000 to Envirohub

• $12,000 to Surf Lifesaving New Zealand

• $10k to the Sustainable Business Network

• $40k for applications to Te Hapai Ora - Regional Community Outcomes Fund - Including a new environmental scholarship for youth in recognition of the late councillor Awanuiarangi Black

Te Hekenga Nui o te Tuna (the Tuna Plan) was endorsed in 2016. In 2017/18 the council has budgeted $40,000 to begin implementing this. “We have also given a $10,000 grant to the Mōtū Trails Cycleway Group and increased our governance activity budget by $200,000 to fund reviews into the April 2017 flood events,” Doug says.

Copies of the 2017/18 annual plan are available from any regional council office, district libraries across the Bay or online at www.boprc.govt.nz.

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