The Sydenham Park botanical gardens will continue to be maintained by the Tauranga City Council.

In an effort to save $30,000, a council proposal to end its maintenance of the park, which boasts a world class collection of kauri trees, resulted in a community outcry and a deluge of submissions in support of council retaining upkeep.

Kauri trees at Sydenham Park.

In its annual plan deliberations, the council has decided to continue its involvement and to set up a new Tauranga Botanic Gardens Trust that will do the day-to-day management of the three hectare park.

'That was approved in terms of allowing a new trust to be set up to facilitate that project,” says Mayor Stuart Crosby of the decision made on Monday.

'The previous trust did a project to come up with a concept plan, and then they disbanded, so hopefully the new trust can pick up components of that if they wish.”

The decision means the land will be managed in accordance with the city's reserves management plan, similar to the other city parks.

The main benefit for the council in setting up a new trust is that future development of the park will become the responsibility of the trust.

The land was left to the citizens of Tauranga by the late Frank Sydenham for the purpose of providing a botanical park.

The land remains the property of the Guardian Trust.

There is currently $30,000 in the annual plan for the maintenance of the property.

That has been reduced to $20,000 for the coming financial year, says Stuart.

Under the trust deed the council is required to provide a botanical park, keep it in good order and condition and pay attention to developing sub tropical plants.

The council received 86 submissions about the park with 75 supporting council retaining the park, two were opposed and nine did not state a position.

One submission was a petition with 1247 signatures in favour of the council retaining its involvement.