Regional Coastal Environment Plan

The Regional Coastal Environment Plan promotes the sustainable management of the natural and physical resources of the Bay of Plenty coastal environment.

The Plan covers the entire coastal environment (230KB, doc) including the coastal marine area (i.e. the area between mean high water spring tides and the '12 mile limit' of the territorial seas) and the land backdrop.

The plan contains:

• Rules to 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.
• 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.
• Sixteen schedules including site specific information on coastal values (i.e. landscape, vegetation, bird habitat, conservation areas and culturally significant areas), development plans for the Ports of Tauranga and Whakatane, water quaility 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.

A draft plan change proposing to not introduce a Coastal Occupation Charging regime is available for comment until 30 October 2009.

Plan changes were placed on hold by Council in November 2007 until the revised New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement (2008) is gazetted. The Board of Inquiry report on the NZCPS is being reported to the Minister of Conservation.

Regional Coastal Environment Plan

• Table of Contents (492KB, pdf)
• Part I - Plan Framework (174KB, pdf)
• Part II - Matters of National Importance (177KB, pdf)
• Part III - Activities and Effects (462KB, pdf)
• Part IV – Advocacy (110KB, pdf)
• Part V - Environmental Results (103KB, pdf)
• Part VI - Summary of Rules (327KB, pdf)
• Part VII – Schedules (2169KB, pdf)
• Glossary of Terms (109KB, pdf)

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.

Order a copy of the Plan

Order the plan by phone 0800 ENV BOP (368 267) or email us at info@envbop.govt.nz. The plan costs are as follows (prices include GST):

• Volume 1 (Text) - $40
• Volume 2 (Maps) - $90

The Plan is available to view at Environment Bay of Plenty offices, all public libraries throughout the Bay of Plenty and service centres of Bay of Plenty’s city and district councils.