Tauranga's waterfront plan is granted resource consent in a decision that clears the way for the transformation of The Strand reclamation car park into a waterfront park.
Work could begin on 'tidying the place up” early next year, says Mayor Stuart Crosby, who notes councillors' view is for a more modest development than what the resource consent permits.
Tauranga City Council sketches of the waterfront development.
'The thinking at the moment is to do some basic upgrades,” says Stuart.
'I think there's a bit of a desire to do the boardwalk from the fish and chip shop to the edgewater fan area on the waterfront for cycling and walking.
'And to do some upgrades in the bigger areas,” says Stuart.
'Particularly to provide potentially a hard surface area where the car park is, so it can still remain a car park, when it's not being used for events.”
The other car park area toward the existing toilet block will probably be turned into green space, says Stuart.
'What it does it gives us a framework now to start to invest in the waterfront.
'Clearly in the current financial situation, the thinking at the moment is to do some basic upgrades.”
Because the council has decided not to proceed with Coronation Pier it has $500,000-$600,000 carried forward from last year's budget, which could be allocated to the first stage of the upgrade.
There's a paper coming to the council for discussion in the next few weeks exploring ways of introducing a commercial aspect to the redevelopment.
'I don't think we will start before Christmas, more likely we will do it in the six months from January to July. By the time tenders have gone out, it will be more than like March or April.
'I think there is a desire to tidy the place up and get people back there.”
The approval granted by Commissioner Peter Crawford also signals the end of the reclamation's use as a car park for the CBD.
The Waterfront Plan involves the loss of 299 car parks from the reclamation.
It is a key issue for businesses on The Strand and Wharf Street which objected to their loss at the three day hearing in August.
'A pragmatist can see the physical relationship between the existing waterfront car parks and the restaurants and related business activities on The Strand,” says Peter in his decision.
No supporting evidence was offered to support the business owners concerns that losing the car parks will have a negative effect on their businesses, says Peter.
The Tauranga City Council says there are sufficient car parks available elsewhere in the CBD, and he notes that the council is proposing to extend nearby car parking building hours and phase the closure of The Strand car parks.
He made it a condition of the consent that when more than 150 of the car parks have gone as a result of the staged development, the hours at the Spring Street parking building will be extended to at least 10.30pm on Friday and Saturday nights.
The car parking must be available for the duration of the waterfront plan's 15 year consent.
His conclusion is that in terms of effects on the environment, the effects of the proposed redevelopment will be minor and consistent with the city plan objectives.
It appropriately addresses the Tauranga Harbour's outstanding landscape status, it acknowledges the regional plan statements and meets the terms of the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement in regard to aligning the natural and physical environment with the subzone objectives, the CBD and the city plan.
The joint consent hearing also granted resource consent for the marine side of the waterfront plan – the replacement and rebuilding of 300 metres of seawall, the construction of the 230m long board walk.
The 10m wide walkway will have 7m over the water, with the water dredged so people falling off the board walk will fall into water and not onto mud.
The harbour consents have been granted for 35 years with a lead in time of 15 years.
40 comments
Great thinking Stuart
Posted on 04-10-2011 17:10 | By Openknee8ted
If you can't park during the day, you can park in the car parking building at night. Think how much you can save by shopping when the shops are closed. Watch out for those naughty publicans trying to get you to stay out late. Remember at 10:30 pm get your car out of town because it is Stuarts lights out time so get yourself off home for a Milo.
ANOTHER NAIL IN THE COFFIN OF cbd
Posted on 04-10-2011 18:19 | By YOGI
Along with teh amazing decision that of course the car park plan is shelved until 2019 and maybe later. So as the officials know what it all means lets all park in the TCC car park from now on and to heck with this ignorant lot.
lol
Posted on 04-10-2011 19:17 | By Capt_Kaveman
leave it as it is and put the funds against the debt you idiots
Unmitigated Bull**** a complete copout!!
Posted on 04-10-2011 19:45 | By RORTSCAM
Yes scrub all the parking we will take your "word " that you TCC can conjure up more carparks somewhere else(like where) Yes build an unnecessary seawall Yes build a walkway the size of a road Yes take 35 years to do it Yes commercialise it all if you like even if you didn't ask for it in your application Yes please spend $30 m on nothing if you wish that is not an RMA consideration and finally would you like cream with that Sir ? QED
Another C--k U-
Posted on 04-10-2011 20:56 | By STRAITAS
Here they go again our bloody Councillors wasting ratepayers money again. Just leave it as it is, most people would rather spend their time playing with the kids at Memorial Park heaps of space down there why not spend a bit of money down there
Posted on 04-10-2011 22:38 | By crazysteed
well there goes more parking what is the point, do we have a city or TCC just want to get in more debt and could this be a bad error on TCC part
SO MUCH FOR SO LITTLE
Posted on 05-10-2011 04:02 | By ANNA KISSED
The debt is already looking like the next new "EVEREST" to take over at the top of te world, like is this a good idea or what. Why would you want to add to it like this, nothing particularly in it for anyone yet .... here we go again.
Disaster......
Posted on 05-10-2011 07:54 | By wreck1080
Commonsense, building such a wonderful waterfront attraction will increase traffic --- at the same time they are reducing parking. DISASTER...where is the commonsense?
HE WHO DOES THE PAYING DOES THE SAYING
Posted on 05-10-2011 08:05 | By ROCKY
The glossy picture illustrates huge tree plantings akin to a forest a marina full of boats a couple of piers for housing junk and a huge wooden foreshore motorway.Won't be seeing much of water from the Strand. This little work for $30 million -TCC must be FITH>.
local govt
Posted on 05-10-2011 09:37 | By The author of this comment has been removed.
seems this bunch has had its day - not a lot of positive comment about them is there. Tauranga City Major and councillors - just move on and stop your stupidty please.
Do these public servants ever listen?
Posted on 05-10-2011 09:54 | By SpeakUp
The diagnose for TCC is self-evident: Psychopathic megalomania in conjunction with egocentricity, ignorance, arrogance, pilfering of public funds and in flagrant denial of public opinion. There were times such scallywags were tarred and feathered. If they were lucky!
zara
Posted on 05-10-2011 11:20 | By Zara
Has anybody stood on the strand and looked back towards the buildings that border this ?.I have never seen such a load of disjointed crap, all different styles, colours, heights etc.Why doesnt one of the highly paid genuises at the council begin a process that would instigate a central theme such as one sees in the likes of small cities such as Auckland,Wellington,Brisbane,Sydney, etc that would give the whole waterfront area a combined theme and not just more mirror glass crap that is currently planned.This would eventually turn the area into a postcard "must see" tourist attraction that would bring the city center "alive".
Short-sighted critcs
Posted on 05-10-2011 12:04 | By itsabouttime
Open your eyes people. The Strand is long over due for a re-vamp. A carpark for a waterfront is an eyesore and quitefrankly ridiculous. I agree that the buildings need upgrading but small steps people!! A loss of a few carpaks is made up by the existing parks elsewhere, a bus service etc. Walk an extra few minutes, and just get over it. For once, I think this is money well spent - those who disagree must be those who are happy with Tauranga staying in its old, behind the times ways.
Posted on 05-10-2011 12:17 | By traceybjammet
it is crazy having a carpark along the waterfront and in reality a 5- minute walk wouldnt hurt most people and there is buses around the corner. The upstairs of most of the older buildingds along the strand are quite pretty but you can only see them from the carpark at present. It seems to me Tauranga is never going to become a vibrant forward thinking city if they spend all the rate-payers money procrastinating not doing. Bit like Auckland which 30 years ago procrastinated about spending money on public transport because they argued they would never have a big enough population??? cars are a luxury and will become more so as oil prices and insurance etc go up and up
@ TRACEY N ABOUT TIME
Posted on 05-10-2011 13:29 | By YOGI
So the air-head logic is to spend $30 million so as "it looks pretty" well isn't that just the greatest idea since ... who knows. So lets mortgage the future multiple generations for that, what a really really good idea ... NOT. As for the car parks, TCC say "there are plenty" but have failed as yet to point out where they are, obviously opening the car park building a bit later in the evening will help but really the car park problem is on normal "working" days where workers need to park somewhere, perhaps that is the problem TCC is completely oblivous to "working" issues, like "work" for example.
zaras on the money....
Posted on 05-10-2011 13:54 | By wreck1080
Agree with Zara - the strand is an architectural back water. Get a decent artist (not architect) to design a character waterfront area with common theme and mandatory building specifications. Then, any new / replacement buildings in tauranga should also follow the artists design specifications.
Bye CBD
Posted on 05-10-2011 15:10 | By Gregmilla
Great news for the Mount & Bayfair! I bet they are happy. The loss of 299 prime downtown carparks will have a major effect on the city retail and hospitality. Guaranteed. Usual story - once this council lot have made up their mind, you are wasting breath and ink .....
train
Posted on 05-10-2011 17:45 | By Mr bay
now if we could only get the trains off the strand......how many cities have a train system running right through the middle of town with no passenger service....
CBD TERMINUS MAXIMUS
Posted on 06-10-2011 00:46 | By MASSA KISSED
Yes gregmilla, bayfair, Papamoa and bethlehem will be jumping for glee at teh thought of the closure and sistimatic closure of the CBD, no parking = no cars = no people = no staff = no sales =no money ... how long will the obvious take to sink in at Council Hall, who do they think they are benefiting ... THERE IS NO ONE THERE ... at least after the parking is gone ...
Consciences common sense and well being of Tauranga are missing
Posted on 06-10-2011 08:32 | By Hebegeebies
Mr bay > Pray tell us how would you get rid of the railway line do you have the spare $100 million to achieve this.? It is a feature so just put up with it and get on with life.Can only affect those people pigging out or drinking themselves silly in the Strand liquor zone and they have more important things to dwell on.No one there lolling about during daytime on weekdays to take in the view with most of the activity at nightime.On scale of 1 to 10 for idiot ideas the removal of the railway line scores a 10 the approved Waterfront Development by Commissio ner Crawford gets a 9 and Priority One's plan for total commercialization of the Strand Reclamation gets a 10.What is the next madcap idea.
@ HEBEGEEBIES
Posted on 06-10-2011 19:51 | By PLONKER
1 = gorgeous, 10 = maniacal depraved and ridiculous and of course getting worse day by day.
Tidied everyone up thats an understatement
Posted on 07-10-2011 16:06 | By KAMIKAZE
Now you can't see the bloody trees for the forest.A "joint" hearing alright how else could you get such muddled thinking.
@ PLONKER,
Posted on 08-10-2011 12:48 | By YOGI
20 then is that what you mean, for this shambles of an idea.
IF YOU CAN NOT SEE THE WOOD FOR TEH TREES?
Posted on 08-10-2011 13:01 | By YOGI
Then plant more trees! For "joints" Don Brash comments and co-horts & Co, it will for sure be smoke and mirrors then.
MORE TREES IS WONDERFUL
Posted on 08-10-2011 16:33 | By ANNA KISSED
The Don Brash and compnay can then legalise "Magic Mushrooms" to, then there would be nothing left to stop the growth and "MUSHROOM" of TCC staff in the CBD, they will then take over it all completely.
WHAT ABOUT THE WOMBLES?
Posted on 09-10-2011 02:06 | By MISS ADVENTURE
The Strand area is there for them to build sand castle homes and more, so where do they go then?
COME ON MS ADVENTURE
Posted on 09-10-2011 10:53 | By PLONKER
It is obvious that all they want is trees, grass and mushrooms. Now we all know Don Brash is a grass lover so it is obvious that The Council has all jumped ship from labour to Act now hence the "Act" haven on the waterfront.
HOW MUCH MONEY FOR THE GLASS BOX
Posted on 09-10-2011 17:17 | By PREDATOR
Apparently TCC have agreed to pay rent for the glass box that was to be removed off the pier because it had no consent or something. Why do TCC want that or are they planning to move all into it then no one can throw stones at them anymore, is that how they handle justified constructive criticism and new great ideas that would make all a lot better.
STONED IN A GLASS HOUSE
Posted on 10-10-2011 00:48 | By ANNA KISSED
I guess that means that all will have to throw stones gently at each other while inside the glass house on the pier.
THISE THAT WANT IT SHOULD PAY FOR IT
Posted on 10-10-2011 08:38 | By PLONKER
So a vote on it by the public would be on a "I want, I pay" basis, absolutely fair I reckon.
REPLACE CAR PARKS FIRST
Posted on 11-10-2011 12:58 | By Roadkill
TCC should have the responsibility to replace park for park + all that will be lost in the CBD Strand plan "BEFORE" being allowed to think about doing anything at the Strand frontage. On top of that who is going to pay? TCC does not have any money left to spend on anything!
SHUT DOWN IN CBD
Posted on 12-10-2011 03:59 | By SCARLET PIMPINEL
Looks to me like "ANOTHER BRICK IN TEH WALL" towards the end of the CBD, the "HEART OF A CITY" is surely but slowly having the life squeezed out of it slowly but surely just like a slow motion foot on a LEMON gradually sinking downward on it ...
FREEBEE FOR ALL
Posted on 12-10-2011 22:29 | By PLONKER
Baywave, Fraser Cove, Papamoa Mall and Bethlehem Town Center must have put money into this scheme so as the CBD shuts down, all good for business. next that will want to commence a Mutiny on the CBD to cut the loosers loose.
NO CARS IN CBD
Posted on 13-10-2011 23:25 | By MASSA KISSED
At all, that is what will be next for sure, a car free CBD, then TCC employees (not workers) will be able to stay at home and still be paid, like that is any difference to now for most?
THE END IS CLOSE AT HAND
Posted on 14-10-2011 18:10 | By PLONKER
But a few years remain and then regardless of economic recovery the shutters will have to go up again and stay thre permanently. Why can this lot not see the consequence of what they are doing, it is obvious and clear to many but not enough it would seem as yet, perhaps the truth is needed.
PREMIUM PAID FOR CAR PARKS
Posted on 17-10-2011 11:17 | By Crash test dummies
If the car parks go then you can expect the same result as in Auckland, that the price will rise sharply, I would expect something like 2-3 times as much in a 12 month period, on a good day.
WELL OILED?
Posted on 19-10-2011 20:44 | By WARTS N ALL
So lets spend the $$ and see how long the oil takes to get to that also, WTF.
NEED 'MORE' CARPARKS
Posted on 21-10-2011 18:51 | By DRONE
Not less, build the Harrington carpark first as there is already a shortage now in the day time.
DRONE
Posted on 24-10-2011 13:57 | By ANNA KISSED
Yes that is obvious, the lack of carparks on the average working day is shocking, to open the existing carparks in the evening will not help one little bit as that is not when the problem occurs. Build the new car park building first on Harrington Street of at least 5-6 storey's high (two could be under ground), it will serve the Courts in McLean House and provide more day time parking to working folk.
CAR PARK BUILDING
Posted on 24-10-2011 16:50 | By Crash test dummies
Drone/Anna, what a good idea, build the car park building before wiping out the carparks on the Strand, what a simple and obvious solution, I reckon 400+ would do it for sure.
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