Environment Bay of Plenty consults with interested parties to produce various plans, which are required under the Resource Management Act 1991. These plans relate to different areas of the Bay of Plenty environment and are statutory resource management documents.

For information on the status of the plan, please refer to the Plan Status page.

The Regional Coastal Environment Plan extends to include the entire coastal environment. The coastal environment includes the coastal marine area (i.e. that area between mean high water spring tides and the '12 mile limit' of the territorial seas) and the land backdrop.  Click here to see a diagram of the coastal environment.

The plan contains rules, which regulate some activities in the coastal marine area. This includes building of structures, disturbance of the foreshore or seabed, reclaiming the sea, discharging of contaminants and other activities. These activities generally require a coastal permit from Environment Bay of Plenty before they can be undertaken.  Click here for information on coastal permits.

The plan also contains policies about important environmental issues on land adjacent to the sea. This includes issues relating to the natural character and landscape of the coast, public access and coastal hazards. These policies do not regulate people’s activities directly but provide guidance in the preparation of district plans and consideration of resource consents.

Other Provisions
There are 16 schedules in the plan full of useful information such as site specific information on values (i.e. landscape, vegetation, bird habitat, conservation areas and culturally significant areas), development plans for the Ports of Tauranga and Whakatane, water quality standards, environmental monitoring and restricted coastal activity criteria.

Planning Maps
The planning maps cover the entire coastal strip of the region, including harbours and offshore islands and land backdrop at a scale of 1:25 000. The maps identify many of the special values of the coast that need protecting.  

Plan Changes
A plan change to provide for Aquaculture is in its early stage. Click here to find out more.

A plan change to include a Coastal Occupation Charges regime is in its early stage and Environment Bay of Plenty invites feedback on the proposal. Click here to find out more.