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 Body Elections.

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

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

The 59-year-old says there are a number of projects he'd 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.

Don 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 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,” says Don.

'I have never supported stormwater being part of any reform. If an authority can't handle their own stormwater – they shouldn't exist.”

Don says water and wastewater infrastructure is far more expensive and complex than stormwater and he'd like the assets to remain publicly-owned.

He also has thoughts on whether Tauranga City Council and Western Bay of Plenty District Council should amalgamate.

He is not opposed to it but wants to see Western BOP 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 BOP had an even split. 'I'm not a big fan of amalgamation at the moment.”

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

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

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

Don says the councils already work together with the BOPRC on things like the Regional Transport Plan.

The mayoral hopeful has some big plans, and the October election will decide his fate.

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