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The Next Regional Policy Statement

Consent Orders Issued

The following points of appeal have been resolved by way of consent order: (Latest updates are in italics)

  • Policy WL 6B: Managing the reduction of nutrient losses
  • Policy CE 10XB: Discouraging hard protection structures (Western Bay of Plenty District Council and New Zealand Transport Agency)
  • Policy CE 11B: Avoiding inappropriate hard protection structures in the coastal environment (Western Bay of Plenty District Council and New Zealand Transport Agency)
  • Policy CE 12B: Enabling sustainable aquaculture (Forest and Bird Protection Society of NZ)

 The following consent orders are available to download:

Appeals to the Proposed Regional Policy Statement

There have been 33 appeals lodged with the Environment Court against Council's decisions.  These comprise eight appeals lodged against Council's decisions on submissions to the Coastal Environment and Water Quality and Land Use provisions of the Proposed RPS notified on Tuesday 27 March 2012.  A further 25 appeals were lodged against Council's decisions on the remaining parts of the Proposed RPS notified on Tuesday 14 August. 

The time period for becoming a party to these appeals under section 274 of the RMA has closed. 

The appeals are being dealt with through the Environment Court process. We are unable to provide information about the appeals as this may prejudice the judicial process. 

Provisions and/or sections appealed have been shaded grey in the Council Decisions Track Changes Version 8.0b and Clear Copy Version 8.0c (see links below). 

The following documents are avaliable for you to download:

Should you require further information please contact the Environment Court or should you wish to obtain a copy of an appeal please contact the appellant directly.

Council Decisions on the remaining parts of the Proposed Regional Policy Statement

Council notified its decisions on the remaining parts of the Proposed Regional Policy Statement on Tuesday 14 August.  The decisions cover all parts of the Proposed Regional Policy Statement except for the Coastal Environment and Water Quality and Land Use provisions.  The decisions for those parts were released earlier on Tuesday 27 March (see section below).

The Proposed RPS needs to be given regard by regional and district plans and when processing resource consents.  The requirements of the current Operative Bay of Plenty Regional Policy Statement will apply until appeal matters have been completed.  Provisions and/or sections not subject to challenge by appeal have greater judicial weight.

Documents relating to Council's decisions are available for download below.

Proposed Regional Policy Statement Council Decisions

 Other documents

Copies of the above documents can also be obtained by contacting Marie Radford, Planning Administration Officer, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, PO Box 364, Whakatane, phone toll-free on 0800 884 880, fax 0800 884 882, or email marie.radford@boprc.govt.nz

Council Decisions on Water Quality and Land Use, and Coastal Environment provisions

Council notified its decisions on all submissions to the Coastal Environment and Water Quality and Land Use provisions of the Proposed RPS on Tuesday 27 March 2012. 

There have been 8 appeals lodged with the Environment Court against Council's decisions. 

Decisions on the remainder of the Proposed RPS will be released in August 2012. The requirements of the current Operative Bay of Plenty Regional Policy Statement will apply until any appeal matters have been completed.

Documents relating to Council's decisions are available for download below.

Water Quality and Land Use

Coastal Environment

The documents can be viewed between 8am and 5pm, Monday to Friday at the Regional Council offices at:

  • Quay Street, Whakatāne
  • 1125 Arawa Street, Rotorua
  • 6 Rata Street, Mt Maunganui

and at any public library or district/city council office in the region.

To obtain a copy of the above documents please contact Marie Radford, Planning Administration Officer, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, PO Box 364, Whakatane, phone toll-free on 0800 884 880, fax 0800 884 882, or email marie.radford@boprc.govt.nz

Proposed Variation 1 (Coastal Policy)

Proposed Variation 1 (Coastal Policy) to the Proposed RPS was publicly notified on 27 March 2012.  The Proposed RPS was publicly notified prior to the release of the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement 2010 (NZCPS 2010).  Consequently the Proposed RPS did not fully align with NZCPS 2010 policy direction and it was decided the best way of addressing these inconsistencies was to prepare and notify a Variation 1 (Coastal Policy).   Click the following link for more information on Variation 1 (Coastal Policy).

What's the Proposed RPS?

The Proposed RPS provides a framework for sustainably managing the region's natural and physical resources. It highlights regionally significant issues with our land, air, fresh and coastal water, infrastructure and biodiversity, including issues of significance to iwi. It sets out what needs to be achieved (objectives) and how it will be achieved (policies and methods).

It does not contain rules; instead it sets out how we, and city and district councils, need to manage these resources. It is a more directive policy document than the current operative RPS, especially in relation to regional and district plans and the consideration of resource consents.

The first Bay of Plenty Regional Policy Statement (December 1999) will remain operative until the second is approved. The Proposed Bay of Plenty Regional Policy Statement 2010 (RPS) was released on 9 November 2010. The period for making submissions ended on 8 February 2011 and 183 submissions were received. The period for making further submissions ended on 19 May 2011 and 57 further submissions were received.

Hearings of submitters to the Proposed Regional Policy Statement commenced on Thursday 15 September and were completed on Tuesday 18 October. A total of 98 submitters were heard at the Hearings.  Hearings were held in Rotorua, Maketu, Tauranga and Mount Maunganui. All Hearings were open to the public.

Deliberations commenced on Monday 5 December and concluded on Wednesday 13 June 2012.

Section 32 reports

Section 32 reports for the Proposed Regional Policy Statement summarise our evaluation of the extent to which each objective is the most appropriate way to achieve the purpose of the Act.

Read the Section 32 Reports made available on 9 November 2010 at the same time the Proposed Regional Policy Statement was publicly notified for submissions.

Read the Section 32(2)(a) reports made available when Council notified its decisions on submissions to the Proposed Regional Policy Statement.

Hearings Documentation

Various reports and documentation were made available to submitters prior to the hearings and are still available below.

Staff Overview Reports

Changes recommended by staff

Related information

A full version of the Proposed RPS is available for download, as well as individual chapters and appendices.

Newsletters

Read the latest RPS newsletter August 2012 for an update on:

  • proposed Regional Policy Statement Hearings
  • view the Hearings evidence
  • next steps
  • number of submissions received by topic
  • Web-friendly Next RPS

Download a copy of the latest or previous newsletters here:

Want to contact us about the Proposed RPS?

Email: info@boprc.govt.nz
Phone: 0800 884 880
Write to: Regional Policy Statement, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, PO Box 364, Whakatane 3158