More than 180 submissions are received on the region's resource management policy document with more expected before the deadline for them strikes on May 19.

The document sets policy and guidelines for how natural and physical resources in the region should be managed under the authority of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

Councillor Raewyn Bennett says it is good to see such a high level of response from the community.

'It's important the document responds to how our regional community wants the area's physical and natural resources to be managed in the future,” says Raewyn.

'As expected, submissions reflect the region's diverse range of agencies, community interests and individual aspirations.

'Staff have now prepared a summary of the decisions requested and we have called for further submissions on the submissions received.

'We will hold hearings later this year before making recommendations to council on all the submissions received.”

Submissions were received from across the region and from a range of industries, interests and agencies.

Of the 183 submissions received to date, 64 came from individuals, 31 were from community or environment interest groups, 27 from primary industry organisations and 15 from iwi/hapu or Maori.

Issues submitted on include water quality and land use, water quantity, mangrove management, infrastructure and energy, geothermal management, the mapping of the coastal environment and nationally important areas.

Other issues addressed include amending the urban limits lines and the iwi resource management provisions.