Paying $20million into regional infrastructure developments is something no other council in New Zealand has ever done, says Bay of Plenty Regional Council chairman John Cronin.

The Council yesterday announced its $5million allocation to the stalled marine precinct and $15million boost for a central city tertiary institute. It is also investing $2.5million in the Scion Innovation Park in Rotorua and $18million on Opotiki harbour developments.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council chairman John Cronin.

John says the hefty funding boost is a regional council first for New Zealand, and will not impact on ratepayers.

'We were able to do this from our resources.”

John says the cry that Tauranga is God's waiting room and there is no opportunity for youth has been clear since the mid-1990s. He is thrilled the tertiary institute, first raised with SmartGrowth three or four years ago, is finally happening.

'It has to have TECT funding with it, but it's probably one of the biggest chances for youth, and to create jobs, that we have ever seen.

He hopes the developments will create jobs specific to the Bay of Plenty.

'We don't want generic jobs that are transferable. Skills like accounting, law, BA, they can do that anywhere. We would rather see engineering, agriculture, forestry; all that type of real jobs.”

John does not want to see people coming out of the tertiary institute and be unable to secure jobs in the region.

'No council in the county ever stood up to lead economic development and particularly give our youth real opportunity for work and jobs.

'Over time we will be putting forward $40million, and we will be making sure there's another $40million being put up by other people.

'That is a huge injection into creating jobs and wealth in the Bay of Plenty.”