Catherine Stewart Tauranga City Councillor

The Bay of Plenty Regional Council is undertaking a variation to the proposed Bay of Plenty Regional Policy Statement.

Variation 2 is being prepared to address issues raised in appeals against that section of that statement.

The resulting natural hazards policy will guide District and City Plan rules that influence where people live and work and how they develop land and infrastructure.

Mitigating and avoiding natural hazards has always been a function of all councils under the Resource Management Act.

Council staff have advised elected members that more policy and research will be required, resulting in changes to the Tauranga City Plan.

More hazards will be inputted into the City Plan, such as earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanoes.

Proposed Change 2 is now open for public submissions for 30 working days, with submissions closing on November 13, 2014.

For further information, go to: http://www.boprc.govt.nz/knowledge-centre/policies/operative-regional-policy-statement/proposed-change-2-(natural-hazards)/