After five terms as a Western Bay of Plenty councillor, Don Thwaites feels it's time to 'step up or step aside”.

That is why he is only running for mayor in the October Local Government elections.

'The people of Western Bay are going to decide, they can either elect me or retire me,” says Thwaites.

'It's as simple as that and I'm happy to take their outcome.”

The 59-year-old told Local Democracy Reporting there were a number of projects he would like to achieve if he were to become mayor.

He would 'love to champion” the Katikati Bypass, that would see State Highway 2 traffic diverted away from the town, easing congestion on the main street.

The bypass has been called for by locals since the 1920s and planned and subsequently delayed by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency since 2007.

In 2017 the bypass was approved, then in 2019 NZTA said it would not consider a bypass for Katikati until 2028.

Thwaites would also like to see the secondary school in Omokoroa built, as well a community centre in Maketu.

'We've heard from the community they'd dearly love [a community centre]. We don't have funding just yet, but I'd love to get that done.”

The long-time Te Puna resident also has some thoughts on the Three Wates reforms.

The reforms propose the country's drinking, waste and storm water management be handed to four regional bodies instead of being managed by 67 councils.

'A better solution for 'two waters” reform could be the water and wastewater assets operated by a Bay wide entity.

'I have never supported stormwater being part of any reform.

'If an authority can't handle their own stormwater - they shouldn't exist.”

He says water and wastewater infrastructure is far more expensive and complex than stormwater and he would like the assets to remain publicly owned.

Thwaites also has an opinion about whether Tauranga City Council and Western Bay of Plenty District Council should amalgamate.

He's not opposed to it but wants to see Western Bay projects achieved first, like the bypass.

'I'd like to get a few things done before we consider joining with the 50,000 ratepayers in Tauranga.”

He says the balance needs to be right between urban and rural ratepayers and currently Western Bay has an even split.

'I'm not a big fan of amalgamation at the moment.”

The councillor of 15 years suggested another option of the Kawerau, Opotiki and Whakatane District Councils coming together.

Then there would be three Bay of Plenty councils of a more even size; Western BOP, Eastern BOP and Rotorua Lakes Council that could work with Tauranga City Council, he says.

'These are good sized entities to deal with local issues, that could provide balanced governance for the Bay of Plenty.”

Thwaites says the councils already work together with the Bay of Plenty Regional Council on things like the Regional Transport Plan.

The mayoral hopeful has some big plans, but it will be up to voters in October to decide his fate.

-Local Democracy Reporting is Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air