Paula Thompson BOP Regional Councillor www.envbop.govt.nz

If you want to talk about anything to do with the regional council, please don't hesitate to contact me at paulathompson@xtra.co.nz

There are a host of government initiatives underway that will impact and potentially change local government.

These include changes to the Local Government Act with a focus on narrowing the scope of local government - the Bill will be reported back from the Select Committee before Christmas. The main contention is between those favouring a narrowing of local government's role and those that favour local government retaining on behalf of community, discretion to balance economic, environmental social and cultural outcomes. I am in the camp of retaining the discretion. More local government Act changes for next year also!

There are also changes to the Resource Management Act pending - some announced this week making consenting time frames ‘quicker' and a much bigger package of reform proposed for next year. Quite what is in the package is unknown outside the halls of Cabinet meeting rooms but expect to see changes to processes, structures and systems that the government believes will better enable economic growth. I would anticipate wider use of independent commissioners and certainly more opportunities for decluttering of the planning regimes between district and regional councils.

There are changes being made to water quality and quantity allocation –changes to roading maintenance - and work being done on Infrastructure efficiency, development impact fees, building processes, housing affordability and other work around making councils efficiency and productivity focused.

I would expect that relatively early in 2013 the ‘operating environment' will be clearer and more focus will go on to this region's councils' responses to the changes. Given that next year is an election year, I anticipate that it will be a lively year as communities and councils work to find the solutions that are best for the present and future. A fundamental for managing potential change will communication par excellence. My hope is that we - the communities of Tauranga, Western Bay of Plenty, Rotorua and the Eastern Bay will have vibrant and diverse debate so that the results are of and for community. Expect a lot of opinion to be shared and aired!