Public advice is being sought on how the regional council should spend its Port of Tauranga income.

The council is the port company's largest shareholder, with holding company Quayside Holdings Ltd owning 54.14 per cent of Port of Tauranga Ltd shares.

The regional council is asking how to spend their income from the Port of Tauranga.

When the government privatised the publicly-owned Bay of Plenty Harbour Board and created the privately owned Port of Tauranga Ltd in 1988, Quayside Holdings Ltd was created to reflect public investment in the construction of port assets.

The dividend income from the PTL shareholding is greater than the regional council takes from both its general and targeted rates, regional councillor John Cronin told Tauranga City Councillors at a recent meeting.

'Dividend income is increasing by 26.5 per cent, or $4.2 million, from Quayside Holdings in its first year,” says John.

'And council put aside reserves allowing for the planned expenditure and economic development that we are looking at doing right now.

'That is the planned Opotiki harbour transformation, the Scion development park, the Tauranga marina and the campus here in Tauranga.”

The regional council is paying out $40 million from set aside Quayside Holdings income, without affecting the general rate.

While John was using the figures to defend the council's proposed $11-13 dollar rates rise for Tauranga residents, councillor Paula Thompson says a public response is now required for how the regional council continues.

'Our strategy in our long term plan is that the balance of the funds which are spent on councils own infrastructure comes back to us because it is by way of a loan, and we will be able to build up another fund over time,” says Paula.

'Our questions are to everyone. Do you want us to do that or don't you? Do you want us to have any role into terms of funding regional infrastructure or not?

'Do you want us, for example, to have this special fund that might be able to fund infrastructure that has really good environmental outcomes like sewerage treatment plants etc? That is one of our big headline issues.”

A second big issue is the council wants public input on regional development. Currently 20 per cent of the Quayside Holdings profit is being set aside to fund regional development.

'Do you think that is a good idea or not?” asks Paula. 'What is regional development? Do you think we should be in that game or not? These are the big headline issues that we really need want some feedback on.

'We believe this region is looking down the barrel of some very, very big issues; de-population, an ageing population, climate change, ageing infrastructure, costly infrastructure. You name it, we've got it.

'We think we can play a role. Do you want us to, and how should we all play in that sandpit if we decide we are going to play?”

The Regional council's full draft plan is more than 300 pages, but the consultation process is based on a 23-page consultation document titled 'Thriving Together', which is intended to summarise what the council sees as key issues, the financial strategy and where public input is required.

The ten-year plan is open for public consultation until 4pm on March 20. Hearings of submissions will be held from April 15-17 at Whakatane, Rotorua and Tauranga.