Key outcomes from Ordinary Council meeting 29 April 2025
You can watch the recording of the meeting on Council’s YouTube channel.
Please note these are informal notes on the key outcomes from the meeting. The formal minutes and official record will be endorsed at the next council meeting.
Minutes and Committees – Council endorsed or received the minutes of several meetings and committees including the March Council meeting, April Extra Ordinary council meeting, Performance and Delivery Committee meeting, draft Coast Community Board meeting, Bay of Plenty Mayoral Forum, and Bay of Plenty Civil Defence Emergency Management Group Joint Committee meeting.
Papers also included the regular reports from the CEO and Mayor.
Public submissions – Dorothy-Anne Wilson (Dot) from the Ōpōtiki Museum spoke to council on several topics – a request for improvements to signage for the town centre and historic Church Street areas and a request for photos of all the former mayors and councillors for the museum. The Mayor thanked Ms Wilson for her time and presentation and noted that they were topics that would be well worth looking in to.
2023-24 Annual Report – The Annual Report contains the financial and non-financial performance results for Ōpōtiki District Council for the year ending 30 June 2024 (completed through audit on 16 April 2025 with two qualifications). It was adopted. There was lengthy discussion about the costs in fees and staff time of completing a complex and lengthy audit process. A new resolution was added to the paper to direct the Mayor to write to the Minister for Local Government, LGNZ and the Mayoral Forum to raise these concerns in regard to the significant costs and resource required of council each year to complete them.
2025-26 Annual Plan Information Document - The Annual Plan must be adopted by 30 June 2025 is not significantly different to what was planned in Year 2 of the Long Term Plan. Therefore the Information Document has been prepared to inform the community of the plan for the coming year but a full consultation process will not be required.
2025-2026 Fees and Charges – the schedule of fees and charges for the coming year was adopted. Fees and charges are for services and activities such as dog registration, resource consent applications, rubbish and waste, water, and community facilities. A majority of fees and charges have been increased in line with inflation.
Ōpōtiki Harbour Management Committee – As the harbour project moves from construction to operations, different options have been considered for management and governance of the infrastructure. Council has elected to form a Harbour Management Committee as the initial governance mechanism with representatives from ŌDC, BOPRC, Kanoa / CRHL, Iwi, commercial and non-commercial users.
Local Water Done Well - Local Water Done Well is the Government’s approach to address long-standing water infrastructure challenges. Council must submit a Water Services Delivery Plan to government by 3 September 2025. An important step in this process is consultation with the community to help councillors determine the best way forward for water management in the Ōpōtiki District. Consultation opens on 6 May and more details will be available on the council’s Hono Mai website.
Eastern Bay of Plenty Economic Development Strategy refresh - Ōpōtiki District Council has joined with Whakatāne District Council, Kawerau District Council and the Bay of Plenty Regional Council partnered to refresh the Eastern Bay of Plenty Economic Development Strategy. The strategy was adopted by council and will guide the development of a locally focused Ōpōtiki Economic Development Strategy engaging with business and industry in the district.
Regional Spaces and Places Strategy – Council adopted this strategy to help guide how Council will give effect to better planning and investment in recreational activities across the region.
Ōpōtiki Spaces and Places Strategy – flowing from the regional strategy, council adopted the local Ōpōtiki Spaces and Places strategy which will guide how Council plans and invests in recreational activities and facilities, helping to ensure more effective and coordinated development across the district. The report noted progress on five of the recommendations in the original strategy including activities like looking into the feasibility of new gymnastics premises, grandstand improvements, and lighting upgrades at Memorial Park.
Matariki Festival funding applications – each year, council supports an extensive calendar of community Matariki events. A resolution from council is required to apply for some community grants. Council approved these funding applications.
LGNZ Conference – council has a long-standing method for rotating attendance at the annual LGNZ conference: the Mayor, CEO and two Councillors by alphabetical rotation. Council agreed to continue to use this method of selecting attendance.
Public excluded business – council confirmed in-committee meeting minutes and workshop notes. Also discussed in confidential was Ōpōtiki Harbour vessel usage fees and updated access agreement, and a Rates Remission application.
