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

Money spent on Omokoroa and the debt incurred, being spread across the Bay in rate rises, will be a hot topic for questions to candidates for the upcoming election.

Western Bay councillor Garry Webber leapt to the defence of the council, following a front page story in the local paper on ratepayers being stung with rates rise. His reply on July 11 was comprehensive and though it might be great news for Omokoroa it may not be as well received by the rest of Western Bay.

Garry outlined the history of the council's urban growth initiative starting in 1991 to the development of a structure plan; and he quoted a brief from the council in summarising the background to the study, saying ‘conflicting views' existed as to what type of development is the most appropriate for eh peninsula, what the ultimate population of Omokoroa may be and the time scale that might be needed.

A population of 20,000 was considered at one time, though that was down to about 12,000 by the time the Draft District Plan fixed Omokoroa as the only Future Urban Growth Node in the Western Bay.

The people have not turned up and SmartGrowth has reviewed the exclusive Omokoroa plan and are now quoting a new plan for Bethlehem and Wairoa. Garry was pleased to report that the council will be reviewing the Omokoroa plan and he is excited because he believes that this will give the people of Omokoroa the chance to reinforce what they want.

Meanwhile, he hints at Katikati and Te Puke becoming new growth nodes. Though, as far as I am aware, no planning has even started in these areas and many residents are unsure of what role the council sees for these outlying towns. Are they service areas for their community or just dormitory suburbs for Tauranga? Garry appears to answer that question when he reports that there is no money for new infrastructure services in the outlying areas and that these areas will be best served by the facilities in Tauranga.

He doesn't mention that it is generally accepted that up to $50m has been spent on Omokoroa already. But he does insist that any development in other areas of the Bay will have to be paid for locally, by the affected residents, and not across the Bay which would make the rates unaffordable.

The Omokoroa community will now have the opportunity to reinforce what it wants but Mr Webber did finish with a warning that would apply to all of us. 'It is imperative that all options that are proposed are fully costed for the full life of every project, so that those paying are fully aware of all implications.”