A sitting Bay of Plenty Regional councillor is throwing her hat in the ring for two local body positions in the upcoming election.

Jane Nees announced this week she is seeking re-election to her Western Bay regional council seat and also is standing for the Bay of Plenty District Health Board.

Councillor Jane Nees.

Jane, who has served two terms as a regional councillor, is currently chair of the Bay of Plenty Regional Transport Committee, and is on the governance committee for SmartGrowth, the fifty year spatial plan for the Western Bay.'A wider spatial plan for the Bay of Plenty is being developed and it is important that there be links between the long term planning for local infrastructure, a vibrant economy and sustainable environment, and the planning for health services because they both are critical for community wellbeing in the future,” says Jane.

'A presentation to SmartGrowth from the DHB got me thinking. The DHB uses much of the same information as local and regional government when planning its services. Given our fast changing and challenging operating environment, restrained fiscal situation and the implications of our aging population, we need to have joined-up thinking when planning for the future.”

Jane says she has found being on complementary boards 'enables me to make a much richer contribution than otherwise possible”.

'And given the possibility of reform in both the local government and health sectors, seeking ways of sharing information and planning just seems like good sense.”

Jane sees other synergies between the regional council and the DHB.

'Both organisations are in the business of serving the community and need to focus on cost-effective and efficient delivery of responsive quality services.

'In both sectors, the cost of getting it wrong is very great. There is a lot of focus on service improvement, benchmarking, accountability and risk, and on achieving targets. I think my experience at a governance level could add benefit to both organisations.”