The proposed review of bus timetables and the takeover of routes by individual district councils in the Bay will warrant consideration by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, but it is not likely to take long.

This parochial push for control of the buses by Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick and Tauranga Stuart Crosby defies business logic and probably has more to do with the 2016 local body elections than anything else.

Our modest fleet of 35 buses and a similar number of school buses are running daily and successfully in the Bay.

The BOPRC Public Transport Committee has Bay-wide representation and deals with the big picture and is continually evolving the network, as the region grows.

Recently, when the Rotorua District Council requested route changes, the BOPRC complied and have implemented these changes, which have produced a rapid decline in patronage.

Why local body politicians want to continue to focus on the small picture is beyond me, as it will produce duplication and simply means that passengers are likely to pay more. The Bay needs greater collective management of all of its councils' services across the Region. It therefore follows that all ratepayers and voters should scrutinise the vision of their elected representatives and make sure they are capable of taking us forward, towards rational prosperity and not into the silos of the past.

Douglas Owens, Tauranga City.

These are the personal views of Douglas Owens, who is BOPRC Public Transport Committee deputy chairman.