A change to the Bay of Plenty Regional Policy Statement to amend the urban limits at Tauriko West will become operative later this month, to support demand for housing in Tauranga.

The Tauriko land proposed for development, between State Highway 29 and the Waiora River, is currently in the Western Bay of Plenty District Plan and Tauranga City Plan, and is outside the urban limits of the Bay of Plenty Regional Policy Statement.

The first step in the planning process is to include Tauriko West within the urban limits line.

Bay of Plenty Regional Councillor Paula Thompson says the change has been approved by the Minister for the Environment Hon David Parker, and is being notified by the regional council today. It will then become operative on October 30.

'This is the first time a regional council has used the new Streamlined Planning Process under the Resource Management Act to change a Regional Policy Statement and I comment staff for the way they have carried this work out,” says Paula.

'This will change the enable delivery of urban development at Tauriko West.”

To find out more about the change, people should visit the Regional Council's website: www.boprc.govt.nz/change4