Paula Thompson BOP Regional Councillor www.envbop.govt.nz

Reform of local government is underway. The minister will announce proposed changes in the next few weeks.

Nobody knows exactly what is planned, but I am picking the changes to include; fewer councils, regional, city and district councils to no longer act as separate units, far greater national standards and monitoring for water, stormwater and sewerage, greater regionally-based infrastructure planning, significant emphasis on cost-effective services delivery, costs and debt constraint and economic and environmental innovation.

New Zealand's challenge is how to make economic progress whilst protecting and enhancing the clean green brand. The Bay of Plenty has enormous opportunity to become a region which leads the way on innovative economic progress and environmental majesty. We are a region blessed with natural resources and opportunity. Geothermal, aquaculture, forestry, clean green technology, logistics, horticulture, ecotourism, science research and innovation...the list goes on.

There will be those who don't want change, and no doubt there will be many matters that will need to be aired, debated and challenged. But we are living in technologically enabled times and old structures of local government need to adapt. We need to bring together the best ways of working with a focused view on what we need to achieve and how to best share resources to deliver for now and the future. Boundaries on maps are things belonging to the past. We need continued strategic thinking and integrated working. Lots and lots of challenges, but game on!