NZ Coast, land, water, air – what do you think?
Our natural advantages here in the Bay of Plenty make it a wonderful region to live, work and play.
Environment Bay of Plenty wants to ensure it keeps managing things like the lakes and rivers in the best way, so that future generations can enjoy them.
Environment Bay of Plenty is currently reviewing its Regional Policy Statement (RPS), a process which must be completed every 10 years. Highlights of the new Statement include improving air quality; managing harbours, lakes and waterways; and responding to the region’s future growth, so people can continue to enjoy living, working and playing in the Bay.
Environment Bay of Plenty Strategic Policy Committee chairperson Raewyn Bennett said the RPS was one of the regional council’s most important documents because it set policies and methods for managing the region’s environmental issues. She said it also directed local district plans and required regional council to take into account iwi management plans.
“The world and the region have seen a lot of changes since the first RPS was written in 1999 and the next one will take these changes into account and plan for the future,” Ms Bennett said. “The regional council now wants to hear from residents and groups to make sure the direction of the new Regional Policy Statement appropriately reflects the views of the community.”
To find out what residents and organisations think about managing our coast, land, water and air, Environment Bay of Plenty staff have written an “issues and options” discussion booklet. The aim of the booklet is to spark thinking and debate and to look at different environmental issues.
The booklet covers the following topics:
• Land;
• Air quality;
• Water quality;
• Water quantity;
• Coastal environment;
• Iwi resource management;
• Renewable energy;
• Natural hazards;
• Hazardous substances and contaminated sites;
• Matters of national importance and biodiversity (special places); and
• Growth management and infrastructure integration.
The booklet, which is called The Next Bay of Plenty Regional Policy Statement: Issues and Options, will be available for feedback from Tuesday 2 December 2008. The deadline for comments is Friday 23 January 2009.
Ms Bennett said the booklet was produced to stimulate debate and feedback from residents and included a simple feedback form to make it easier for people.
“This public feedback will be used to help us councillors determine resource management issues which will need to be addressed in the next RPS,” Ms Bennett explained.
Following on from this feedback period, the next step is that the draft RPS will be released in May 2009. The draft Statement will be open for public consultation, then in late 2009 the proposed RPS will be available for everyone to read and make submissions on. While discussion and feedback is being sort throughout this process, the proposed RPS will be the one when formal submissions will be accepted from residents, businesses, organisations, Local and Central Government.
To get a copy of the discussion booklet, please email rps@envbop.govt.nz or call Environment Bay of Plenty on 0800 ENV BOP (0800 368 267) and we can send it out to you. You can also see this booklet online at www.envbop.govt.nz.
Ends
For further media information please contact Senior Communications Advisor Fiona Robinson on 0800 ENV BOP (368 268) extn 8380 or Councillor Raewyn Bennett on 07 533 2373.
Background
Important proposed dates for the next Regional Policy Statement (RPS):
December 2008 – Discussion booklet released, with issues and options for the next Regional Policy Statement. Environment Bay of Plenty invites you to read the papers and have your say.
May 2009 – The draft Regional Policy Statement will be released. Environment Bay of Plenty welcomes your thoughts and feedback.
Late 2009 – The proposed Regional Policy Statement will be available for everyone to read and comment on. This is when you can make formal submissions.
Why is the RPS important?
The RPS is important because:
• It comes under the Resource Management Act;
• It gives an overview of the important issues in our region;
• It must be followed by city and district councils when writing their district plans;
• It set policies and methods for managing the region’s environmental issues; and
• It helps the region manage the use, development and protection of natural and physical resources including land and lakes in a sustainable way.
Why is the RPS being reviewed?
Regional councils review their RPS every 10 years. Our world and our region has seen a lot of changes since the last one was written in 1999 and the next RPS will take these into account and plan for the future.
To view the original article online, click here.
