Whakatane residents will take to the streets tomorrow to protest against Environment Bay of Plenty's proposed relocation to Tauranga.
The regional council announced in December that it was planning the move, sparking outrage from the public and politicians.
Opponents say the relocation of the headquarters - one of
the largest employers in Whakatane - would cause huge economic and social losses.
Jacqui Hughes, a former regional councillor and chairwoman of a group opposing the move, has called on Whakatane business-owners to join the lunchtime protest.
"If the move were to happen, it would damage the Eastern Bay greatly," she told the Whakatane Beacon.
A Deloitte report said the Eastern Bay faced losing $4.3 million annually as 130 staff relocated and a further 57 full-time equivalent jobs were lost in the wider community.
The council has estimated the cost of the move at $23 million, about $2 million of which would be spent on staff redundancies.
Most of the money, $15.4 million, would pay for a new head office in Tauranga.
It says the move to the region's fastest-growing city is necessary to fulfil "regional leadership roles and functions" under the Local Government Act 2002, but MPs disagree.
National's East Coast MP, Anne Tolley, said Whakatane would lose skilled employees and "good spending families".
United Future deputy leader Judy Turner said Eastern Bay infrastructure such as Whakatane Hospital, schools, and tourism would suffer.
Mrs Turner and Mrs Tolley have organised petitions calling on the council to axe the proposal. They have signatures from 10,000 supporters.
The petitions are to be presented to Environment Bay of Plenty bosses tomorrow.
Labour list MP Moana Mackey and National's Bay of Plenty MP Tony Ryall have also voiced doubts about the plan.
Ms Mackey questioned the legality of the council's reason for wanting to move, and Mr Ryall said there was no evidence relocating would save ratepayer money.
Public submissions on the proposal close on May 2 and hearings will be held later in the month before a final decision is made on June 21.
* The march will begin at Whakatane's Civic Square at 12.30pm and go along The Strand to Environment Bay of Plenty's headquarters on Quay St.
