Our natural environment is a unique taonga (treasure) and one of our most valued features. It includes areas of indigenous environmental and cultural value which must be protected.

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Our sub-region is also vulnerable to natural hazards including flooding, erosion, tsunami and landslides. Many hazards can be exacerbated by the effects of climate change. Natural hazards are a significant issue when planning for growth, especially where there is pressure to build more homes, due to the shortage of housing.

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We need to live and work with nature to remain resilient to the impacts of climate change and to respect and improve our environment.

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Some areas of land have been mapped as ‘No Go’ areas for future development, due to their significant environmental and cultural value, or constraints to development.

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Other areas of land have been mapped as ‘Go Carefully’ areas, due to being susceptible to natural hazards or other constraints. Growth will be directed away from these areas unless risks can be mitigated.

Our sub-region is the ancestral home to many generations of Iwi (tribes) and hapū (sub-tribes). The natural environment and cultural heritage are fundamental to our vibrant sub-region.

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There are a number of challenges that are unique to tāngata whenua:

• Building homes on multiple-owned Māori land is incredibly challenging.
• Housing and rental affordability for many Māori communities.
• Adverse impacts of continued development on Māori Land as well as sites, areas and landscapes of cultural significance.
• Cumulative impacts of uncontrolled development on the natural environment.
• Growing risks of natural hazards and climate change on marae and waahi tapu.
• Recognition of commercial redress outcomes of treaty settlements.

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This plan aims to deliver outcomes which contribute to the social, cultural, environmental and economic wellbeing of tāngata whenua.

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A key area of focus for this plan is recognising Marae as centres for potential development. This includes building affordable homes on whenua Māori and creating opportunities for papakāinga (housing, education, social, hauora facilities).

Both the urgency and complexity of the climate change crisis requires us to act. There has recently been a step change across Aotearoa to try and stabilise climate change and ensure that we can cope with the effects of extreme weather conditions.

To develop resilient local communities we need to ensure that in our development mahi we give high priority to reducing climate hazards, cutting back greenhouse gas emissions and conserving, enhancing, and restoring local ecosystems.

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We’re focusing on three core principles:

• Integrating emissions reduction.
• Integrating climate resilience (reducing exposure and vulnerability).
• Integrating and enhancing local ecosystems and biodiversity.

The climate resilience growth approach includes:

• Nature-based solutions and water sensitive urban design.
• Coastal, terrestrial, and freshwater ecosystems are enhanced to improve carbon storage and resilience to climate change.
• Development and infrastructure are planned to be resilient to climate change and natural hazards.

As we’ve built more homes and used more land for farms and agriculture the impacts of climate change have increased within the western Bay of Plenty.  This has placed pressure on our environment resulting in pollution of waterways, sedimentation and the loss of plants and animal life.

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As our sub-region continues to grow, we need to protect and enhance the natural environment while enabling people access to some areas.

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A key principle of this strategy is that growth must be within the limits set through the approach, Ngā Wai ki Mauao me Maketu, which recognises:

• The importance of the waters (coastal and freshwater bodies) that flow to Mauao and Maketu and the significance of these two places to tāngata whenua.
• The linkages between the maunga (mountains), ngāhere (forests), awa (waterways), repo (wetlands), tāhuna (estuaries) and moana (harbours and ocean).
• The protection and enhancement of these elements.

The Te Taiao - Environment growth approach includes:

• Developing a network of open spaces, reserves and ecological areas.
• A range of ecosystems are maintained or restored to a healthy functioning state.
• Growth is within environmental limits.

The rural environment contributes to our overall identity. It provides large areas of open space important for our social wellbeing.

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As the population grows and more homes are built, large areas of open space will become increasingly important.

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Nearly all our land area is classed as rural / lifestyle – nearly 188,000 hectares.

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Productive rural land needs to be protected for our farms and orchards, which contribute significantly to local and international food supply and our local economy.

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Rural land, including coastal environments and waterways, provide important habitats for plants and animals and carbon storage (through trees and soil) to reduce the impacts of climate change. Rural areas contain most of the sub-region’s native plants. These areas of high ecological significance include harbours, wetlands, rivers and areas of indigenous vegetation.

Where we live rents and housing prices are amongst the highest in Aotearoa and are escalating faster than most other areas. Housing cost increases are creating financial stress for many people and whānau.

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The challenge to address housing gaps is one of the most critical issues facing our sub-region.

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Our current challenges are:‍

• Essential workers who can’t afford to own or rent here are leaving. 
• Many older people are retiring without owning their home. They need affordable rental homes, but options are limited.
• An ongoing decline in homeownership, especially for Māori. 
• Growing homelessness and an increased demand for social housing.
• Many new houses are mismatched to smaller household sizes.

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All residents deserve to live in a safe, warm, dry home that they can afford.

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So, we need to think differently, focusing on:

• Increasing affordable housing for stressed households.
• Supporting tāngata whenua aspirations for Māori land and papakāinga development.
• Providing a range of housing types and price points in all growth areas and on Māori land.
• Increasing public housing supply and building homes that match our communities’ needs.

This is our ambition for where and when growth will occur.

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The strategy is underpinned by a ‘Connected Centres’ settlement pattern, which means our communities become places to live, learn, work and play. The focus is on:

• Increasing housing in existing and new areas, with more homes built around centres and accessible public transport.
• Creating neighbourhoods where people can work and enjoy social activities within a 15-minute journey from home, to reduce people driving and support environmental outcomes (CO2 reduction).
• Enhancing how we use public spaces to help create safe and vibrant communities.
• Identifying where more business land is located to support economic growth of the sub-region.

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To achieve these outcomes we’ll need adequate land and infrastructure to address the needs over many years, plus appropriate funding.

Three waters (water we drink, wastewater and stormwater) and other infrastructure and services (electricity, gas, telecommunications) can both support and constrain sustainable development.

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We face a range of challenges around growth, funding, regulatory changes, climate change and the availability of resources. Good planning for future infrastructure needs to respond to these challenges, taking a long-term view and working with partners, including iwi and tāngata whenua.

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The way that three waters infrastructure is planned for needs to change to respond to these challenges. This is a key consideration of Government’s Affordable Waters Reform Programme. Better three waters infrastructure is critical for growth, particularly in urban areas.

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Other infrastructure, such as telecommunications, electricity, and gas are essential for communities and businesses to thrive. They are a fundamental part of planning for growth and development in our sub-region.

The Transport System Plan (TSP) takes the Connected Centres settlement pattern and focuses on the first 30 years of transport investment required to make it happen. The TSP prioritises and decides what projects need to begin in the short, medium and long term.

The TSP includes the sub-region’s entire transport system of roads, rail, public transport, walking, cycling and parking, and how they relate to each other.

The aim is to provide frequent and reliable public transport and safe, connected cycle and walking facilities within and between centres. We will promote travel behaviour changes to reduce emissions and improve people’s health and wellbeing. An efficient freight network will support movement to the Port of Tauranga and contribute to local and wider economic wellbeing.

We need a Future Development Strategy (FDS) to show areas for development over the next 30 years and the infrastructure needed to support it.

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The FDS helps us set the vision for urban growth over the long term.

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The approach underpinning the FDS is Connected Centres. Two core concepts are critical to Connected Centres:

• Building more homes to intensify existing urban and new growth areas. This is to maximise the land available for development and support a well-functioning transport system.
• Being able to access local social and work opportunities within a 15-minute walk or bike ride, and sub-regional opportunities within 30–45 minutes.

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The FDS has been informed by the ‘No-Go’ and ‘Go Carefully’ constraints on development, and iwi values and aspirations for urban development: Manaakitanga - respect and care for others and Kaitiakitanga – environmental responsibility and reciprocity.

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There’s lots more work that needs to be done before we develop new industrial and urban growth areas.  As we go through this process we will make sure there are plenty of opportunities to be part of the process.

Our economy is more diverse and resilient than it was a decade ago and will continue to grow.

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To improve the living standards of local whānau we plan to build on our sub-region’s agricultural and horticultural, manufacturing and export (Port of Tauranga) strengths, while addressing several economic challenges, including poor productivity due to rapid growth and labour shortages.

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We’ll create an inclusive, sustainable economy, underpinned by, innovation, collaboration and skilled people. We want an economy that attracts higher wages for people, and in which everyone who wants to can participate.

Our communities are made up of many different people with various needs. We’re focused on creating places that connect people and make our communities happy. We want everyone to have equal opportunities for fun, learning and activities. As we grow, we'll need to make more public places to help our communities thrive.

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However, we face challenges including:

• Limited investment and growing communities means we don’t have enough social places, and this will be harder with future growth.
• Balancing current and future needs for accessible places is tricky.
• Our population is changing, with more young and old people, so public places need to adapt.

As our communities grow, we need to focus on:

• Making places that are easy for everyone to use, safe, and can change with community needs.
• Designing places that show what's special about the local area.
• Building new community places as neighbourhoods grow.
• Creating different ways to share the costs of building and running these places.