We are well into 2025, the last year of the current election trimester, with elections later this year.

We have the first Council meeting of the year this upcoming week, after the Planning & Strategy and Regional Delivery Committee meeting during the past two weeks.

The big project for this year was to be the notification of the Regional Policy Statement but, in my opinion and against my vote, it was delayed at the December 2024 meeting until at least January 2026.

The update of the Coastal Plan is on the agenda and we are still awaiting the revitalisation of the Regional Biodiversity Strategy, which is due for completion now, according to the indicative timeframe we received last year. You may recall I resigned as Chair of the Biodiversity & Biosecurity Committee in December 2023 at the lack, well lets not pull the scab off that one. Anyway, we are due an update in the near future although Im told we are unlikely to see this before us until at least September. Again, deep breathing needed.

We are just about to ask some questions of the public on the 2025/26 (year two of the long term plan) Annual Plan. I will be heading along to as many groups as I can, let me know if you would like me to come along to yours, or even over a cup of tea.

This weekend its the Paeroa Stream clean up and i need to check the estuary trapline.

Peace out.