Bay of Plenty Regional Council

Tauranga Constituency
The Bay of Plenty Regional Council makes decisions about managing resources in the region, such as air, water, soil and the coastline. It also carries out plant and pest control, helps prepare for natural disasters, and is involved in regional transport. The council is made up of 14 councillors. Councillors are elected to represent constituencies (areas in the region). Five councillors will be elected from the Tauranga constituency. This is a first past the post (FPP) election, so you vote by ticking the name of your preferred candidate on your ballot paper. Compare the candidates and their policies to decide who to vote for in the Bay of Plenty Regional Council election.

Utilities and services

Councils are responsible for a wide range of utilities and services that we all rely on, from rubbish and recycling to street cleaning. Councils are currently also responsible for managing waste water, storm water and drinking water infrastructure – the ‘Three Waters’. But that may be about to change, with central government seeking to shift the delivery of Three Waters services to four new larger entities, which could borrow enough to upgrade the country’s water infrastructure.

Utilities and services

Councils are responsible for a wide range of utilities and services that we all rely on, from rubbish and recycling to street cleaning. Councils are currently also responsible for managing waste water, storm water and drinking water infrastructure – the ‘Three Waters’. But that may be about to change, with central government seeking to shift the delivery of Three Waters services to four new larger entities, which could borrow enough to upgrade the country’s water infrastructure.

  • Ensure infrastructure has capacity and maintained to serve increased housing density, includes Three Waters, access, cycle ways for transit.

    Protect/conserve catchment areas. Update contingency policies to deal with climate extremes/floods/fires and natural or man-made disasters.

    Modify and adapt services to altered situations when appropriate and essential.

  • Keep council control of our investment in drinking, wastewater and sewerage.

    Limit unnecessary registration to a minimum. Jet skis and motorbikes are unfairly targeted.

    Keek up high standard of monitoring for marine alerts and rainfall levels.

  • Ensure sufficient resourcing for monitoring pests whether animals or vegetation.

    Maintain our 98% record in dealing with resource consents within statutory timeframes.

    Monitor air quality in the Mount Maunganui Air Shed and take action to further reduce pollutants in that area.

  • Support Three Waters to be done well, done right and done soon. Progress to ensure our three waters systems are robust and future proofed.

    Set environmental flows and levels for rivers, lakes and aquifers to sustain character, habitat, ecological values and healthy functioning.

    Ensure regional plans control nitrogen and phosphorus pollution and do not provide for grandparenting of current leaching levels.

  • Invest in the regional council's responsibility as a consenting agency, a regulator, a monitor and enforcement agency in Three Waters.

    Invest in technology to speed up delivery and reduce cost of permits and environmental monitoring.

    Use community engagement to inform and receive information on the constant improvement of the quality of water discharges.

  • Future forward planning ensuring quality drinking water supply, wastewater and sewerage with the engagement of those utilising them.

    Effective communication with public by maps/graphics encouraging use of the environment similar to 'Boating in the Bay' publication by Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

    Supportive of environmental monitoring services like maritime alerts and rainfall levels for early notification of natural disasters.

  • Complete delivery of the capital works programme across the five rivers and drainage schemes in the Bay of Plenty.

    Ensure the complete review of the Navigation Safety Bylaw and that maritime navigational aids are of good quality.

  • Recognise three things. 1. Regional council has never had a significant role in the delivery of drinking water supply, wastewater and sewerage.

    Accept that the proposed Three Waters reform is not going to be stopped by any elected members objections regardless of their promises.

    There are more positives than negatives in the proposals. It would be better though if one of the new entities covered our region only.

  • Stop Three Waters in its tracks. This is a blatant resource grab from our people and our region, its inefficient and undemocratic.

    Make development policies around protecting waterways more realistic, these should be effective but not prohibitive.

  • Disqualify all treaty claims in any manifestation past, present or future. "Mother nature" owns all matter, antimatter, DNA, soil, air, water.

    Survey, measure, report and test environmental monitoring services for practical, inclusive and effective outcomes. Continually update procedures.

    Implement a robust user pays system for all permits and registrations. Measure data to ensure balanced and inclusive outcomes, void of politics.

  • Oppose Three Waters. It is a rort, and theft of ratepayers hard earned funds. This co-governance model is flawed. One person, one vote.

  • Ensure infrastructure has capacity and maintained to serve increased housing density, includes Three Waters, access, cycle ways for transit.

    Protect/conserve catchment areas. Update contingency policies to deal with climate extremes/floods/fires and natural or man-made disasters.

    Modify and adapt services to altered situations when appropriate and essential.

  • Keep council control of our investment in drinking, wastewater and sewerage.

    Limit unnecessary registration to a minimum. Jet skis and motorbikes are unfairly targeted.

    Keek up high standard of monitoring for marine alerts and rainfall levels.

  • Ensure sufficient resourcing for monitoring pests whether animals or vegetation.

    Maintain our 98% record in dealing with resource consents within statutory timeframes.

    Monitor air quality in the Mount Maunganui Air Shed and take action to further reduce pollutants in that area.

  • Support Three Waters to be done well, done right and done soon. Progress to ensure our three waters systems are robust and future proofed.

    Set environmental flows and levels for rivers, lakes and aquifers to sustain character, habitat, ecological values and healthy functioning.

    Ensure regional plans control nitrogen and phosphorus pollution and do not provide for grandparenting of current leaching levels.

  • Invest in the regional council's responsibility as a consenting agency, a regulator, a monitor and enforcement agency in Three Waters.

    Invest in technology to speed up delivery and reduce cost of permits and environmental monitoring.

    Use community engagement to inform and receive information on the constant improvement of the quality of water discharges.

  • Future forward planning ensuring quality drinking water supply, wastewater and sewerage with the engagement of those utilising them.

    Effective communication with public by maps/graphics encouraging use of the environment similar to 'Boating in the Bay' publication by Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

    Supportive of environmental monitoring services like maritime alerts and rainfall levels for early notification of natural disasters.

  • Complete delivery of the capital works programme across the five rivers and drainage schemes in the Bay of Plenty.

    Ensure the complete review of the Navigation Safety Bylaw and that maritime navigational aids are of good quality.

  • Recognise three things. 1. Regional council has never had a significant role in the delivery of drinking water supply, wastewater and sewerage.

    Accept that the proposed Three Waters reform is not going to be stopped by any elected members objections regardless of their promises.

    There are more positives than negatives in the proposals. It would be better though if one of the new entities covered our region only.

  • Stop Three Waters in its tracks. This is a blatant resource grab from our people and our region, its inefficient and undemocratic.

    Make development policies around protecting waterways more realistic, these should be effective but not prohibitive.

  • Disqualify all treaty claims in any manifestation past, present or future. "Mother nature" owns all matter, antimatter, DNA, soil, air, water.

    Survey, measure, report and test environmental monitoring services for practical, inclusive and effective outcomes. Continually update procedures.

    Implement a robust user pays system for all permits and registrations. Measure data to ensure balanced and inclusive outcomes, void of politics.

  • Oppose Three Waters. It is a rort, and theft of ratepayers hard earned funds. This co-governance model is flawed. One person, one vote.