Brian Anderson The Western Front www.sunlive.co.nz

I was very pleased to hear that the Katikati Community Board will be looking at ways that Katikati, Waihi Beach and possibly Waihi can work together and develop the new Northern Ward.

The whole Northern harbour area has always had great potential as a tourist area but has been ignored in planning. I heard of this idea at the time the railway tunnel went through the Kaimais. When I arrived in Katikati a few years ago I was pleased to hear the then Deputy Mayor was still trying to encourage the people in the area to start thinking of Katikati as a destination and not just a coffee stop between Tauranga and Auckland. A couple of weeks ago I wrote that the only organisation that was trying to promote a Northern Harbour sub-region focus was the Tauranga Harbour Recreation Forum. If the Community Board and the Forum working together are supported all of the small towns in the ward will be supported everyone will benefit without losing their identities..

Waihi Beach will not be an isolated holiday resort, the rail trail will reach right through to Katikati, Tuapiro will be developed as a multi recreation centre and Tanner's Point residents won't have to install their card access traffic barrier to keep outsiders from using their boat ramp. Matakana will have a better direction for their own development of a genuine Whole of Island plan

Of course, the Community Board will have to be reinforced with an upgraded management structure with delegated responsibility for finding local solutions for the local area. We must do all we can to support the Board if we are going to take part in our sub-region's economic future. If the Council tries to invent their own version in isolation the idea will not work. It is not time to be defending our little patches The way we are going at the moment will have to change. It is time to support each other and bring the whole area back to life.. The Community Board has picked this idea up again and we must keep it going for benefit of all of the residents of the Northern Harbour. It can't come soon enough