Submissions, hearings and deliberations on the draft Development or Financial Contributions Policy have been completed. The final Development or Financial Contributions Policy was adopted on 26 June and is effective from 1 July 2024.

You can read the final policy here.

Development Contributions are payments of money or land that can be required to be made to City/District Councils when land is developed to contribute the cost of new (or increasing capacity of) reserves, network infrastructure or community infrastructure. BOPRC cannot charge Development Contributions. BOPRC cannot set Development Contributions.

Financial Contributions are payments that can be required to contribute towards projects that ensure positive environmental effects, or to offset negative environmental effects of activities. They are normally set as a condition of a resource consent under a Regional or District Plan. BOPRC can require Financial Contributions.

Why are Financial Contributions needed?

Financial contributions may be needed to ensure that the environment is appropriately sustained and safeguarded. Financial contributions are assessed on a case by case basis. BOPRC has not currently budgeted to receive any Financial Contributions.

Why has this policy been reviewed?

The Local Government Act requires that the Policy on Development Contributions or Financial Contributions is reviewed every three years. Since the last review, the Local Government Act has been amended and requires that the Policy on Development Contributions or Financial Contributions supports the principles set in the Preamble to the Te Ture Whenua Maori Act.

The policy is proposed to be updated to support the principles set in the Preamble to the Te Ture Whenua Māori Act, by:

• Considering the principles as part of making any rules for financial contributions.
• Considering the principles as part of any new or amended financial contributions rules.
• Considering the principles as part of assessing any financial contribution.

The full schedule of changes is shown in the proposed policy (in the Document Library). There is also the Policy Statement of Proposal.

We want to know what you think. Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council welcomes your views and feedback.

Feedback received before 9 April 2024 will be summarised for Regional Council. Those wishing to speak to their submission will have an opportunity to speak to Council at hearings before any recommendations are made. The revised policy will be presented to Regional Council for adoption in late June 2024.