Whakatane files appeal to keep regional council

Bay of Plenty ratepayers face "very extensive costs" with Whakatane District Council continuing legal action to prevent the regional council relocating headquarters to Tauranga, Environment Bay of Plenty chairman John Cronin says.

The Whakatane council has said it would appeal last month's High Court judicial review finding that Environment Bay of Plenty followed correct procedure in deciding to shift from Whakatane to Tauranga.

"The decision by Whakatane District Council to pursue yet more legal action would have a significant effect on regional council staff who had already waited two years for the High Court ruling," Mr Cronin said.

"We are hugely concerned not just at the likely very extensive costs to ratepayers of Whakatane District Council's decision to pursue further legal action but the very real hurt and uncertainty our staff continue to face."

The timing of a decision from the Court of Appeal was uncertain, but the regional council was likely to ask for urgency which could mean a hearing before the end of this year, Mr Cronin said.

A group of Eastern Bay of Plenty civic leaders started a campaign two years ago to stop the regional council moving out of Whakatane, saying that the loss of 130 council staff would have a major effect on the town's economy.

Rotorua District Council, Opotiki District Council and Te Arawa Lakes Trust have supported the Whakatane council's position.

- NZPA