The panoramic view of Maunt Maunganui resort town from the top of Mount Maunganui volcano (Tauranga, New Zealand). Photo: Ramunas Bruzas
Mount Maunganui industrial zone businesses are responding to community concerns about pollution with a pledge to reduce their environmental footprint.
An accord sponsored by Bay of Plenty region's economic development agency Priority One committed business to voluntarily take up to five actions to address environmental concerns over the next three years, amid rising concerns from residents.
Priority One chief executive Nigel Tutt said 29 of the largest industrial businesses signed the accord which aimed to respond to growing environment concerns and complaints from expanding residential communities.
He said the Mount Maunganui Industrial Area was crucial to the economic success of the Western Bay of Plenty and New Zealand's international trade, however tensions between community and businesses had increased with population growth.
"The buffer between industrial and residential zones has decreased as the population has increased," Tutt said.
"Local communities have expressed concerns about industry's impact on the environment, primarily around traffic congestion, air pollution and odour."
Businesses who signed the accord were expected to keep one another accountable for their plans to address environmental impacts, and influence smaller polluters to also take action.
He said the accord followed a recent survey of businesses in the area, which found 83 percent of large organisations thought it was important to reduce their environmental impact, with 93 percent investing in equipment or upgrading their facilities in response.
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