Tauranga's choice: A 'vibrant exciting' CBD or an 'ordinary' one

Thursday, 24 March 2022

Two proposals for Tauranga’s CBD have been put to the community for feedback – a full master plan and a scaled-back version.

The people of Tauranga are being asked to decide if they want to be part of creating a “vibrant exciting city centre” as part of the long-term plan consultation.

The civic precinct, Te Manawataki o Te Papa is being heralded as a “once in a lifetime opportunity” for Tauranga and two proposals are being put to the community for feedback.

The first was a full master plan that involved a single-phase staged development of the area between Wharf Street and Hamilton Street in central Tauranga.

It included a library, museum, civic whare (a venue for council and community meetings), an exhibition space and upgrading Baycourt Community and Arts Centre.

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Tauranga City Council commission chair Anne Tolley said the options were “a vibrant, exciting centre city” or “an ordinary civic centre”.

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Option one had an estimated cost of $303.4 million and build timeframe of 6 to 7 years.

It would also include the development of the waterfront reserve, between Hamilton Street and Wharf Street, linking the harbour with the civic precinct via Masonic Park.

“We are investing in the future of the city, yes it costs money,” Tauranga City Council commissioner Stephen Selwood said.

Option two was a scaled-back version that would include a library and community hub and the civic whare, with a cost of $126.8 million.

At a Tauranga City Council meeting today, commission chair Anne Tolley said the annual plan and long-term plan amendment contained some “quite exciting opportunities for the city”.

“It’s for the people who live in the city to decide, based on their comments to us over the last 12 months, do they want to be part of creating a vibrant, exciting centre city,” said Tolley.

“I understand a ratepayer perspective and from a community perspective some concern about the impact on rates,” Tauranga City Council commissioner Shadrach Rolleston said.

“Or do we just want an ordinary civic centre and rebuild the library and do a bit of landscaping.”

Tolley said option two was a “valid choice” and it was up to the community to have the discussion about what should be at the heart of their city.

Te Manawataki o Te Papa, means the heartbeat of the Te Papa peninsula, which runs from Greerton to the city centre.

Commissioner Stephen Selwood said it was “an incredible opportunity for the city”.

“We've spoken at length about the positive impact this will have not only on the city centre, but the wider economy of the city,” said Selwood.

The full master plan option would mean a targeted rate of $265 a year for the median residential ratepayer. Commissioners said people should look beyond the rate increase to what the city needed to prosper.

“It is not only a fantastic amenity for the city, it will have a significant positive impact in terms of the growth and dynamics of the CBD and the role that it plays in this really important city.”

In terms of funding the large undertaking, half the cost would be debt-funded and financed through rates. The rest would come from other sources such as government grants, the sale of non-core council assets and sponsorship.

Council had already committed $83 million in the long-term plan for the library redevelopment, so a further $67 million would need to be funded by the community if option one was selected, said commissioner Shadrach Rolleston.

“That is a significant investment overall for the community,” he said.

“I understand a ratepayer perspective and from a community perspective some concern about the impact on rates.

“We have to think about this in a broader context in terms of what we're trying to seek and deliver for our city in terms of the city centre, but also the way the city develops and evolves into the future,” said Rolleston.

Option 1 would mean the median residential ratepayer paid a targeted rate of $265 per year and the median commercial ratepayer paid $705 in 2030, when the precinct was operational, according the draft LTP documents.

Option 2 would mean the median residential ratepayer paid a targeted rate of $105 per year in 2030 and the median commercial ratepayer paid $281.

The draft LTP document said the rates increase happened very gradually in the early years as the capital projects were constructed.

Selwood wanted people not to have a “very narrow focus” on the percentage increase in rates.

“We are investing in the future of the city, yes it costs money,” he said.

“But if we don't invest properly, then we'll pay in so many other ways in terms of a city that is not prospering.

“That’s the sort of city and CBD we saw when we came here and we want to turn that around,” said Selwood.

Consultation on the draft annual plan and long-term plan amendment begins on March 25 until April 26.