Sports grounds across the Bay of Plenty region are being assessed in a collaborative approach to aid future decision making on their maintenance and supply.

The Regional Sport & Recreation Spaces and Places Plan for the Bay of Plenty Region is a collaboration of six councils with Sport Bay of Plenty and Sport New Zealand.

Regional sports facilities are being co-ordinated. File photo.

The councils are Opotiki District Council, Whakatane District Council, Kawerau District Council, Tauranga City Council, Rotorua Lakes Council and Western Bay of Plenty District Council.

The councils have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaboratively assess and review the region's sport and recreation facilities.

It's the result of discussions that began mid-2014 between key stakeholders about the need for a strategic document that provides a current stocktake of sport and recreation facilities.

The outcome will determine the current provision of facilities and gaps and provide direction and priorities for future needs of the region.

'Sport Bay of Plenty, along with Sport NZ and project managers Visitor Solutions applaud each council for supporting the collaborative and regional approach which will ensure a big picture view of sport and recreation requirements in the Bay of Plenty,” says Sport BOP CEO Heidi Lichtwark.

'It also allows the local councils to identify and plan for their community facility needs in the short, medium and long term.” says Heidi.

There has been duplication and fragmentation in the development of regional sporting facility networks throughout New Zealand, resulting in inefficient use of resources, says Heidi.

The Bay of Plenty is no different. Coordinated planning with organisations working together across political and sporting boundaries for mutually beneficial outcomes through a regional approach has been identified by Sport NZ as a critically important component of a world-leading sport and recreation system.

Waikato, Northland and Hawke's Bay have completed plans using this approach and Sport Bay of Plenty is to be commended for taking the initiative to bring all the key stakeholders together to develop a plan for its region, says facilities consultant from Sport New Zealand Jamie Delich.

The plan is expected to be completed in July, 2016.