The Operative Regional River Gravel Management Plan manages the effects of river gravel excavation excluding extraction in the coastal marine area.  Sand and shingle are minerals that are in demand for roading and industrial uses. Environment Bay of Plenty has a responsibility to control the adverse affects arising from the excavation of these minerals.

Environment Bay of Plenty has an interest in managing the extraction of gravel from rivers for river and flood management.  For those rivers where there are major flood control schemes, for example the Rangitaiki, Whakatane, and Waioeka-Otara, planned gravel removal at specific locations is viewed as necessary to promote free passage to flood flows and for the maintenance of the schemes.  The plan seeks to protect environmental values while providing for the maintenance of flood flow capacities by promoting excavation from the dry parts of the bed and limiting excavation levels to natural supply.

Environment Bay of Plenty presently allows gravel extraction from approximately 60 sites, although not all are worked at any one time.   For further information, contact a river engineer at Environment Bay of Plenty.