About the Bylaws
The Flood Protection and Drainage Bylaws apply to assets owned or managed by Regional Council such as:
- drainage scheme canals and drains
- defences against water (e.g. stopbanks, pump stations, floodgates, geotechnical overlays)
- erosion protection works (e.g. rock rip rap, trenched willows, edge plantings, buffer zone plantings)
These assets protect people, property and livelihoods from river flooding and problems associated with a lack of land drainage.
The Bylaws only apply to assets managed by Bay of Plenty Regional Council as part of the region’s flood protection and land drainage schemes. These schemes are within the area from the Kaituna River and Te Puke Basin east to the Waioeka and Otara Rivers (Ōpōtiki) and include:
- Kaituna Catchment Control Scheme – includes some streams flowing into Lake Rotorua, the Kaituna River and drainage systems in the Te Puke Basin (from Te Puke out to the coast)
- Rangitāiki-Tarawera Rivers Scheme
- Rangitāiki Drainage Scheme – Rangitāiki Plains between Matatā and Whakatāne
- Whakatāne-Tauranga Rivers Scheme
- Waiōtahe River Scheme
- Waiōtahe Drainage Scheme
- Huntress Creek Drainage Scheme
- Waioeka-Otara Rivers Scheme – Ōpōtiki
The Bylaws outline when you need to speak with Council, and if necessary apply for a Bylaw Authority. This ensures we work together to develop the best approach to managing activities within Bylaw Applicable Areas.
