The Local Government Commission has agreed to assess an application seeking the alteration of the boundary between Western Bay of Plenty District and Tauranga City.

The application seeks to include extend the city boundary to include an area of approximately 189 hectares of rural land at Tauriko West, that is currently in Western Bay of Plenty District.

'This is part of an area identified as suitable as suitable for future growth of the Tauranga urban area,” says LGC in a statement.

'The decision means the Commission will consider the application through the process set out in Schedule 3 of the Local Government Act.

'The decision reflects the Commission's agreement that the application contained sufficient information and provided sufficient evidence of community support for the process to be commenced.

'The next step in the process will be for the Commission to formally publicly notify the application and invite alternative applications for the affected area.

'This will occur early in the New Year, as the Commission did not consider taking this step so close to the Christmas break would be conducive to effective engagement with the affected communities.”