(1) The regional planning council shall—
(a) before preparing its regional plan, prepare an inventory of the assets and resources of the region and, to the extent it considers necessary, of any contiguous area; and
(b) thereafter, if it thinks fit or if the Minister so directs, institute a further inventory of the region or any part thereof;
and in such inventory the matters which may be expected to affect the development of the region or the planning of its development shall be examined and an analysis made and the regional planning council shall thereafter keep all such matters under review.
(2) The general object of the regional plan shall be to ensure the coordinated development of the region and the plan shall—
(a) indicate the major land uses, including the important public utilities and any major amenity and recreational areas, areas for development, major transportation and communication patterns and measures for the conservation and improvement of the physical environment; and
(b) state the relationship of the proposals in the regional plan to the major proposals for the use of land in neighboring areas which may be expected to affect the region; and
(c) indicate the manner in which any costs involved in implementing the regional plan should be met.
(3) The regional plan shall indicate the manner in which its proposals are justified by its inventory and analysis in terms of subsection (1) and by any other information which it has obtained.
(4) In preparing the regional plan the regional planning council shall have regard to— (a) the requirements of subsection (3); and
(b) the phasing of any development, the order of priorities in respect of the proposals and the reasons therefor; and
(c) the resources likely to be available.
(5) The regional plan for any area shall consist of a written statement, accompanied by such maps, diagrams, illustrations and descriptive matter as may be appropriate to illustrate the proposals in the plan.