Bay of Plenty Regional Spatial Plan
What is a Bay of Plenty Regional Spatial Plan?
A Bay of Plenty Regional Spatial Plan will provide a long-term, regional view of how our communities could grow and develop over the next 30 years.
It will look at where and how growth, development, infrastructure and environmental protection could be planned across the region. Bringing this information together will help councils and their partners make more coordinated decisions about the Bay of Plenty’s future.
Why do we need a regional spatial plan?
The Government has replaced the RMA with the Natural Environment Act and Planning Act, and the new system will be introduced over several years. Under the new system, regional spatial plans are required by law.
What’s happening now?
The region’s city, district and regional councils (as well as Taupō District Council and representatives for the offshore islands) are working together to develop a regional spatial plan for the wider region, in line with the new planning system.
This work involves sharing information and evidence, strengthening relationships between councils and partners, and building a shared understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing our communities and environment.
This work builds on local and sub-regional spatial planning that is already completed or currently underway across the Bay of Plenty. This includes:
What happens next?
Councils are now confirming governance arrangements, development timeframes and the process for preparing the Bay of Plenty Regional Spatial Plan. Any formal decisions will be made through the required statutory processes and by the relevant councils.
Together, this work will support a more coordinated approach to growth, infrastructure, housing, environmental management and community resilience across the Bay of Plenty.
We welcome enquiries about this work. Please contact us at BOPSpatialPlanning@boprc.govt.nz
Working with tangata whenua
An important part of this work is ensuring tangata whenua have meaningful opportunities to contribute to and help shape the development of the regional spatial plan.
Working with tangata whenua will help ensure the plan and the process used to develop it appropriately reflect tangata whenua interests, aspirations and perspectives.
The Planning and Natural Environment Bills propose significant changes to how activities would be managed and regulated. These changes may have particular implications for Māori.
If you would like to discuss this in more detail, please contact us at BOPSpatialPlanning@boprc.govt.nz
