MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release: 13 January 2010

Community to have say in future direction of the Bay of Plenty

Bay of Plenty residents could receive a phone call during the next three weeks asking them to participate in the Community Outcomes Survey or the Environment Bay of Plenty Perception Survey.

Environment Bay of Plenty Group Manager Strategic Development Mary-Anne Macleod said the surveys, which are conducted every three years, provide people with the opportunity to have their say in the future direction and well-being of the Bay of Plenty.

“The Environment Bay of Plenty Perception Survey will give us an idea of how the community thinks the Regional Council as an organisation is doing – in both what we do and how we contribute to the Community Outcomes,” Ms Macleod said.

“The Community Outcomes Survey will enable us to build on previous data collected in 2006, 2003, and 2000 so that we can determine trends in community thinking and the measure progress against those desired outcomes.”

Community Outcomes are the goals that the community believes are important for its present and future economic, social, cultural and environmental well-being. The Local Government Act 2002 requires all councils to identify community outcomes for their communities.

“We’ve worked with the region’s local councils and other organisations to do this, and it’s important to remember that the outcomes belong to the community – they are not Environment Bay of Plenty outcomes,” Ms Macleod said.

Key Research in Tauranga will conduct the random telephone surveys across the region during a three-week period from 26 January 2010. Three thousand residents in total will be surveyed.

ENDS

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