Economic and freight growth are two issues Western Bay of Plenty residents want addressed by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council's land transport strategy.

The council's senior transport planner, Mike Calvert, says the strategy looks at 30 years of transport in the region and how future requirements can be met.

'One of the major issues is growth of freight,” says Mike.

'Not just in the region, but into and out of the region – also the importance for the port with the general growth in the Western Bay of Plenty.”

Mike says they are now working their way through the submissions and will summarise them for a panel hearing scheduled for this month.

'They will then look at the submissions and make appropriate changes to the document.”

Major transport issues facing the Whakatane district are among the submissions made on the proposed strategy.

Whakatane District Council chief executive Diane Turner says the strategy outlines transport plans for the region, providing a link between central and local government.

'Whakatane's transport network is our most expensive cost,” says Diane.

'We must achieve the right balance between community safety, convenience and affordability.

'The review of the RLTS gives us the opportunity to raise key issues we're facing with regards to transport.”