The Regional River Gravel Management Plan manages the effects of river gravel excavation.
Bay of Plenty Regional Council has a responsibility to control the adverse effects arising from the excavation of river gravel. The purpose of the plan is to assist the Council to carry out its functions in respect to controlling the excavation of gravel. Extraction can occur to help manage or enhance soil conservation, water quality, flood risk, flood hazards, coastal processes, heritage values, instream and riparian values.
We have an interest in managing the extraction of gravel from rivers for river and flood management. For those rivers where there are major flood control schemes, for example the Rangitāiki, Whakatāne, and Waioeka-Otara, planned gravel removal at specific locations is viewed as necessary to promote free passage to flood flows and for the maintenance of the schemes. The plan seeks to protect environmental values while providing for the maintenance of flood flow capacities by promoting excavation from the dry parts of the bed and limiting excavation levels to natural supply.
For further information, contact a river engineer at Council or engineering@boprc.govt.nz.