Media releases 2024

February 2024

• Mount Maunganui air quality most monitored in the country
• Stopbank and floodwall upgrades begin in Whakatanes CBD
• Get a move on and have your say shaping the Bays transport future
• New, stricter air quality rules for the Mount
• Bar calling service to stop

March 2024

• Feedback welcomed on draft Long Term Plan
• Five orchardists fined over illegal water take
• Involve kids in environmental sustainability, up to $5,000 towards your project
• Community input needed to help make generational decisions for the Bay
• Baybus OnDemand: A New Rideshare Service Debuts in Tauranga
• ...

April 2024

• Stopbank remediation project more than 70% complete
• From rainwater harvesting to bike racks: Community Choice for School Resilience
• Regional Council approves care plan for the protection of geothermal in Rotorua
• Funding now available for environmental improvement projects
• Adaptation funding helps path the future for Waihi Beach Lifeguards
• ...

May 2024

• Noble family land gift a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for community
• First of Long Term Plan Hearings hosted at a Marae, a first for Regional Council
• Keep it clean this Moving Day
• Flood protection in Bay of Plenty gets a boost in Budget 2024

June 2024

• Regional Council 10 year plan trims expenditure, tightens general rate increase
• ‘Marathon’ effort to help improve water quality
• Navigating with confidence: Two new Whakatane Harbour cameras installed
• Construction complete on lower Rangitaiki River stopbanks
• School sustainability projects given the green light
• ...

July 2024

• Creating regional consistency with new rates remissions
• Community asked to have say on preferred representation arrangements for Regional Council
• The Bay’s transport future: 10-year Regional Land Transport Plan adopted
• Sewage saga: Landlords fined for septic tank discharges into Kaituna River
• New Harbourmaster vessel to increase safety for Eastern Bay of Plenty boaties
• ...

August 2024

• Regional Council welcomes Central Government’s $20M co-investment into regional flood protection
• Emerging pest threats prompt Regional Plan amendments – Have your say.

September 2024

• Effluent mismanagement poses risk to estuary health
• Regional Council responds to National Land Transport Funding announcement: focus on core public transport services
• New boating rules for Bay of Plenty adopted
• The Bay’s public transport: smart changes for a growing region
• Keeping it reel: protect our lakes from freshwater pests

October 2024

• Preserving our geothermal resource: Proposed changes now open for public feedback
• Regional tertiary commuter bus services to end in 2024 following funding shortfall
• Labour weekend boating: rules to keep your head above water.

November 2024

• Get on board to help build balanced bus fares for the Bay
• The Regional Council’s Annual Report highlights for 2023/24 financial year
• Temporary suspension of bike rack use on Bay of Plenty public transport buses
• New additions to Papamoa Hills Cultural Heritage Regional Park bring record number of visitors
• New speed limits in place for local rivers.
• ...