What makes your place special?

Climate change, housing, transport, growth – Council’s new online community hub is here to tackle the big issues affecting our slice of paradise in the Western Bay.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council has launched Your Place, our new home for an ongoing conversation with our community about many of the ways Council’s rules affect your everyday life.

Your Place – yourplace.westernbay.govt.nz - will include conversations on how we improve our transport networks, protect our important natural, cultural and historic heritage, and grow our local economy.

We’ll also be talking about how we can use changes led by Government to our advantage – such as the Resource Management Reform, National Policy Statement for Highly Productive Land, and Enabling Housing Supply Amendment Act.

General Manager Strategy and Community Rachael Davie says community involvement is the key to ensuring Council’s plans work for everyone. This is our chance to prepare for change and turn it into an opportunity to benefit us.

“The Western Bay is growing and its needs are changing fast. Now is the time to make these changes. We haven’t had a full conversation like this with the community for the last 10 years and we need to, to ensure we’re positioned to manage growth well. Together we can make the changes we need to grow while protecting all the things we love about where we live.

“This means something different to everyone and so we look forward to hearing a wide range of experiences and ideas so we can get it right.”

The - Your Place – online hub is live now for people to get familiar with, and to sign up for email updates. Two key projects have already been launched for housing changes prompted by Government’s Enabling Housing Supply Amendment Act. These will be out for consultation for affected towns, Te Puke and Ōmokoroa, with short surveys and digital pin boards to add ideas and photos to.

“We’re beginning with two community conversations around new housing opportunities in Te Puke and Ōmokoroa, but there’s more to come across the whole Western Bay beginning in May,“ says Rachael.

“We look forward to stopping in at your place and getting your take on pressing issues, to help us create a set of rules so that no matter what change comes our way, where you live, work and play remains just that. Your Place Tō wāhi.”

Nau mai, Haere mai and welcome to Your Place yourplace.westernbay.govt.nz