More than 2000 pieces of feedback were received from 262 submitters.<\/p>\n
The most popular scenarios, each receiving 27% support, were a sub-regional unitary authority and a Western Bay unitary authority.<\/p>\n
A sub-regional unitary authority would see councils from the Western Bay and Tauranga combine, and take on Bay of Plenty Regional Council functions.<\/p>\n
The proposed sub-regional unitary authority. Image \/ Western Bay of Plenty District Council<\/p>\n
A Western Bay unitary authority would see the Western Bay council survive but increase its scope to include regional council functions.<\/p>\n
The community expressed concerns about taking on debt from other councils, retaining a strong local voice, and fair treatment of rural and urban communities.<\/p>\n
Councillor and Deputy Mayor Margaret Murray-Benge said the council would no longer function alone under the incoming reform<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cStaying on our own clearly isn\u2019t an option.\u201d<\/p>\n She was part of the majority who voted to proceed on the head start pathway and develop proposals for two mergers.<\/p>\n As well as a sub-regional authority, the council would explore forming a regional unitary authority including all councils in the Bay of Plenty.<\/p>\n The latter had 19.6% public support in consultation.<\/p>\n Mayor James Denyer and councillors Grant Dally, Rodney Joyce, and Darlene Dinsdale also voted in favour.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are dreaming if we think it\u2019s going to be easier after the election,\u201d Murray-Benge said.<\/p>\n Proposals would be developed for a Bay of Plenty-wide regional unitary authority and a sub-regional unitary authority.<\/p>\n The benefits of a Bay of Plenty-wide merger, as identified by council staff, were more efficient planning, a new planning system, and a simplified local governance arrangement.<\/p>\n These benefits were also identified for the sub-regional option, alongside alignment with SmartGrowth<\/a> and alignment with boundaries used for the shared Tauranga\/Western Bay water organisation<\/a> and regional deal.<\/p>\n SmartGrowth and the Western Bay regional deal<\/a> are growth partnerships between councils.<\/p>\n The council decided against other merger options, with Denyer describing some as \u201cnon-starters\u201d.<\/p>\n These included merging district councils, splitting the Western Bay council, the Western Bay council surviving, or waiting for the compulsory reforms.<\/p>\n The councils in the proposed regional unitary authority. Image \/ Western Bay of Plenty District Council<\/p>\n