The big screen for The Strand is on again, and it will be in place this weekend for the Rugby World Cup semi finals.
The Strand will be closed to traffic Saturday and Sunday evenings.
News that the big screen is on is a complete turnaround for the project instigator De Bier Haus proprietor Matt Hayward, who lost heart after the Tauranga City Council failed to fully support the venture.
The council put $10,000 towards ancillary costs, but it still left Matt facing thousands of dollars in additional costs above the $8500 screen hire he offered.
'We just went and dug up some money and made it happen,” says Matt.
'Terry Molloy – he's the one that's driven the council side, I guess pushed it through.
'We are funding the screen, and we have been promised money from other sources.
'We decided that especially now, Tauranga really needs something and if that costs money then that sucks – but at least we are not going to die wondering.”
The big screen will at the southern end of The Strand for both the semi finals and the final, says Matt.
'We are going to have live music down here from 6pm this weekend. We are trying to make a whole event out of it, not just a rugby thing.”
The screen will be set up at the southern end of The Strand, near Red Square.
It will be within a liquor-free zone outside of licence to occupy zones operated by bars and restaurants along The Strand.
Councillor Terry Molloy says he's received strong support from council and the community and hopes that the screens will benefit everyone involved.
'The project has been made possible through contributions from De Bier Haus bar and restaurant, Syndicate bar and bistro, property investor Denis McMahon, with Tauranga City Council committing $10,000 towards costs associated with road closures, security, rubbish collection, etc,” says Terry.
The screen will complement the REAL Tauranga Festival taking place on The Strand extension, which runs from Friday through till Sunday.
The screen will be taken down again on Monday, but be back in place on the following Sunday, October 23.
'I encourage people to come down to The Strand over the weekend, take part in the REAL Tauranga Festival, enjoy the hospitality on offer at the bars and restaurants in the city centre and then to join us in front of the big screens and create a great atmosphere in the city centre,” says Terry.
25 comments
The REAL festival?
Posted on 13-10-2011 12:54 | By budgettga
who would even know its on....where on earth does one see this advertised? I haven't seen a brochure, billboard, sign or advertisement and I have been out and about a lot.....puzzling
let the fun begin
Posted on 13-10-2011 13:25 | By YakYak
Fantastic,can't wait to watch the games on the screen plus the REAL Tauranga Festival is a great way for familys to share the fun. At last Tauranga seems to be hip and happening. Lets hope the AB's Win
Pass the hat around
Posted on 13-10-2011 14:35 | By Pamax
Congratulations to Matt Hayward for taking this initiative I am sure many residents will come to watch the BIG games. In the spirit of Matt's gesture I suggest someone "Pass the Hat Around" and make a contribution because it's unlikely the refreshment sales will recover the screen hire costs. Max Lewis. Mt Maunganui
Message to TCC was do not fund or become involved but TCC GAF
Posted on 13-10-2011 16:36 | By Hebegeebies
Well done CBD commercial interests if you can genuinely come up with most of the funds and if you are short see Mayor Crosby and Crs Molloy Baldock and Moultrie for their personal contributions. It doesn't excuse the fact that Council was told clearly by ratepayers not to commit TCC ratepayer funds yet they have chucked in $10000.I will bet its contribution does not stop there either. Cr. Molloy is the one who has smarmed his way round this in an effort to ingratiate himself to the Priority One and Chamber of Commerce toadies.Forecast is for rain so bring the brolly raincoat and wellies guys !
Hand out...
Posted on 13-10-2011 18:50 | By Tony
Terry Molloy was running Pub to Pub last week with his hand out trying to collecting for this ...I bet we dont see any clear fiscal reporting done here when it crashes and burns
Rugby with no beer
Posted on 13-10-2011 19:54 | By Helena
I'd rather stay home than watch the game without a beer. Isn't NZ the nation with rugby and beer? David, Welcoma beer
Great News!!
Posted on 13-10-2011 20:34 | By the_fourth_estate
Finally!! Why it wasn't in place from the outset we'll never know but I am certain its got a lot to do with the nay sayers who form a large part of the TCC..well Done Cnr Malloy - the masses of us who demanded action on the issue will be there to join you at the semis!
Democracy yeah right
Posted on 14-10-2011 05:49 | By jimmi
and here was I thinking the majority wins. Public opinion was clearly against rate payers forking out, for the commercial interests, of a FEW bar onwers on the Strand, once again, that counts for nothing, now that it is done, does the TCC get a return from the bar owners on its investment?, nope!!!!, good business, no wonder the city is in the crapper.
Democracy sucks!
Posted on 14-10-2011 11:11 | By The Tomahawk Kid
@Jimmi: They are doing it for your own good Jimmi! You don't know what you want, and you don't know how to spend your own money on what you want either - so they have to do it for you! This is the result when you give your permission to do-gooders to do stuff with your - and other peoples money. Democracy is the counting of heads - not their content! It is an immoral system that deprives the minority of their rights (ie minorities have no rights!) There will ALWAYS be a majority of PAULS willing to steal from PETER to get what they want!
OH MY GOSH
Posted on 14-10-2011 13:47 | By Becks
I have said it once and I will say it again The Businesses on The Strand (yes myself included) do give money to the council. We pay monthly fees (no other street in the CBD or TGA) has to pay these fees. It works out to be approx $90,000 per year!!!!!!! If it wasnt going to be on The Strand it would have been somewhere else. To be honest whether it was to be in Greerton, The Mount or The TECT areana I would of being supporting it either way!! It just so happens Matt got the ball rolling and made it happen! Instead of pouring your time into negative comments that are not based on facts pour your time into more important topics! We are the 5th largest city and finally have a fanzone. Good on you Matt and those who helped make it happen!!! Thanks the_fourth_estate for your support!
SO MUCH FOR THE BLEATING AND GENERALISATIONS WHAT ABOUT THE FACTS?
Posted on 15-10-2011 08:27 | By Investigator
Well Becks you have made a fairly sweeping statement about what fees The Strand businesses make to TCC coffers.Can we now check whether the claim made by you will stand scutiny .Will you please post what the monthly fees relate to and how they are calculated- also how many businesses are involved. Cheers
Investigator
Posted on 15-10-2011 12:15 | By Becks
Hi there, With the business I am involved with I can say that we are billed approx 7996.32 per year for use of the outdoor area infront our premises! That no other retailers or businesses in TGA from what I understand have to pay! Sorry I do not want to give out information on the other businesses as you can understand that that is up to them to share! Please dont get me wrong I dont mean to come across as winging about this fee because thats not my intention but in regards to comments that The Businesses on The Strand are using rate payers money from my point of view is incorrect! Yes perhaps if we were not funding this ourselves or subject to fees the goahead its a fair game! This project is self funded with the help of other local buisnesses! Which is the point I am trying to make!
Just to be clear
Posted on 15-10-2011 12:36 | By Becks
My intention is not to start an online debating war or be negative towards the council but to try and help people to understand that comments like Jimmi - does the TCC get a return from the bar owners on its investment?, nope!!!!, good business, no wonder the city is in the crapper. Is not fair to be made! IN relation to the article Matt has sort funding for this event. As the article has stated! Yes the council has helped with a $10,000 commitment but this would have been made avaliable to Greerton or The Mount had enough private funding not been made! So many negative comments on a positive outcome is some what frustrating!
Looking forward
Posted on 15-10-2011 14:17 | By power
Becks you seem to be a miniority on here in terms of comments but good on you, for voicing your opinion. I think this is great. All be it a little bit late. I have family visiting from Australia and will be going to The Strand tomorrow night and am looking forward to it. And when we make the finals next week I will be bringing my very keen rugby fan sons down to watch on the big screen. Glad that there is somewhere I can take our overseas visitors now as the beach is a no go and the hotpools are not looking to positive either.
"SMELL THE ROSES" BECKS
Posted on 15-10-2011 15:12 | By CRUMPY
Some of what you say is fair and some of what you say is reasonable, like about the Strand tenants paying rent to TCC for the use of the footpath so as you have more space available to operate business, the $7-8,000 you note seems reasonable, I would not want to see it higher than that of course. What others are "WINGING" about has justification and that means that TCC should not be paying or allocating rates money to the likes of this in Tauranga, Mount, Greerton or anywhere. The VERY simple reason x2 for this is are: - the funds are available from RWC if that had of been organised a year or two ago and second whatever TCC does or interferes in costs a lot more for no reason other than pointless POINTY heads running around needlessly so as to stop a perfectly good business from doing what it does best like least cost, best revenues and no silly pointless POINTY head rules. Proof of that was the "Boobs on Bikes parade in the CBD, my business had one of its best days that day, of course there were no Pointless POINTY Heads to in the way except those all lined up looking ... in the crowds. Good result for all of course, we did not even have to pay the POINTY HEADS to be there on that day, says a lot right!
GOT THE POWER.
Posted on 15-10-2011 15:34 | By YOGI
On the money mate about the Hotpools and the beaches, but that is of course but a fraction of the TCC created problems. They are experts and making a shambles of things, quite simply the more they do the worse it gets.
its all your fault - stop moaning
Posted on 16-10-2011 13:39 | By The Tomahawk Kid
Here you are all fighting about WHAT? Let me tell you! OTHER PEOPLES MONEY! If you were not forced to pay money to the COUNCIL, you could spend that money on things that are of value to the retailers (you know - the people who actually make the CBD what it is) The CBD is the CBD because that is where people originally gathered to do business (a bit like how a market works) NOT because of the council. Why do council take money from the businesses ANYWAY (You dont give it - they TAKE IT with threats and the use of FORCE if you refuse to pay!) Remove council from interference in the private businesses of the CBD, and let the businesses organise themselves, and how they wish to work) If they did this, they could all agree on whether they paid a fee towards funding Big screens and the like. The council are the cause of why the CBD is failing anyway. All the time you all misguidedly demand that the council be involved in your business affairs you will continue to get what you ask for - ie busyboddies interfering in YOUR personal business. Therefore it is YOUR FAULT - you are getting what you ask for. If you don't like it, you could always STOP GIVING THEM YOUR PERMISSION, and vote for candidates who will campaign to REMOVE COUNCIL from everything apart from CORE ESSENTIAL SERVICES.
DON’T COME THE RAW PRAWN TRICK
Posted on 16-10-2011 17:03 | By Investigator
Becks - good to see that even though you were fudging the $90,000 payments you have now at least admitted what these payments actually are - they are license payments made by café and bar owners on The Strand to TCC to occupy and use the pavement area for patrons to eat and drink on. You say your payment is $8,000 p.a. if your landlord owned this area, the rent would be double that at around $16,000 p.a. - the net result is that TCC ratepayers are subsidising you to the tune of $8,000 p.a. Without the use of these outside areas, many businesses would fold. Despite Councillor Molloy's sickening politicking, posturing and unctuous toadying, I fully agree with the 85% of citizens who say TCC ratepayers should not be contributing anything to the big TV screen for RWC. If CBD businesses want to fund the thing completely that is fine and best of luck to them. The dour semi-final last evening, the very late start and the inclement weather should indicate it will not be a bed of roses - if it is a success, it will be a major surprise.
TOMAHAWK DRIFTIN' & DREAMING
Posted on 16-10-2011 17:15 | By Investigator
TCC do not have my permission to do anything outside core services. Where are the candidates that will promote Council involvement in only core services where are the voters to elect them - it isn't going to happen in our lifetimes so don't flog a dead horse. Look at other ways to cause Council grief and you may get in by the back door ? If you look around you will see some people are actually making a difference support them.Chance of a win win result otherwise keep going with the cracked record hot air. WTF
@ BECKS
Posted on 16-10-2011 20:51 | By Crash test dummies
$8,000 is like a charitable donation, that is such a small amount for what is a fantastic pavement area, that all you have to do is place a few tables on it and double your patrons each and every night. I bet you don't even pay rates for the land area either, also what about paying a shar of teh clean up cost of all teh mess made by your patrons each night that TCC have to orangise and pay for. Sometimes these things just don't end do they. Come on gurl lift you head up and "smell the roses" here, the token payment the is the least thing to worry about. Perhaps you should be focusing on the TCC silly plans to change the by-laws on closing time because of all the under aged, young drunks that hang around at closing time and cause trouble.
TO MANY BACK DOOR ALREADY
Posted on 16-10-2011 21:05 | By Crash test dummies
@ Investigator, there are way to many of those already with heaps a back door deals, example the Jazz festival so called loan that will never get paid back, what a joke, they were not even allowed to give a donation or loan anyway, that was a Balldock special spend up supported by Molloy who does not even live in Tauranga so he is happily spending cos not going to add to his rates is it, what a balls up it all is. Molloy was not even on the events committee, but of course the lord and master of the realm requied him to be present and cast a sour word or two in favour.
@Investigator
Posted on 17-10-2011 10:08 | By The Tomahawk Kid
The cracked record you mention are a little thing called "principles" in action. They are a set of rules that you do not flip flop on like every single do-gooder on the council. Without principles you will continue to get what you are getting now. I do not continue with the stuck record approach for popularity. If I wanted to do THAT, I would have the same approach as every councillor in there now - the same old methodology that has delivered the same old problems and results that we are unhappy with right now. Getting IN through the back door (by deception) would make somebody no different to those in there now. Besides, my principles will not allow me to do that. If you voted for any of the candidates at the last council election, then you DID give them your permission! If you didn't vote for any of them, then I apologise :-) I am SURE We all have the same GOAL in mind - ie to make Tauranga a better place, it is only our way of achieving that goal that differs. I propose a method that does not require the use of force, theft and threats, which in the process returns individual rights to the ratepayers to spend their own money on things THEY value, instead of being forced to pay extortionate amounts of money to a collection of well-meaning do-gooders (council) to spend it for them (who then MOAN when the stolen loot isnt spent how THEY want it!) TI propose taking control of your own life and money and stop voting it away.
JAFFA
Posted on 17-10-2011 16:13 | By Becks
It is unfortunately a given that there WILL ALWAYS be young drunk people causing trouble! The problem occurs in EVERY CITY and it is better contained in one area than out in the suburbs! IN REGARDS to telling me to smell the roses! I am not complaining that we have to pay as having an outdoor area is FANTASTIC for us and the patrons! A little consistency for ALL businesses in Tauranga/Mount having to pay this would be great! And support which in this instance has been given. When you say clean up the mess........ when were you last down on The Strand? We clean up and maintain our own outdoor area, ( that is part of the deal) the businesses I assume you are talking about that have the problems with under agers, and the MAJORITY of mess are NOT SUBJECT to this fee. MAJORITY are not even on The Strand. We are very much appreciative of the council help, in returns of their help with this project no agruement there, but just think that was to help with closing the street for the games and security that $$ goes directly to the council. And do debate in you get what you vote for. The CBD is a fantastic area to host events and with assistance (as cant be done without the paperwork signed off) they are a huge success. Which next weekend will prove.
Principles that's akin to moralizing
Posted on 17-10-2011 21:14 | By Hebegeebies
Well The Tomahawk Kid if you think your LIBERTARANZ approach will work the best of luck to you but in the short term you are really away with the pixies.So be it that your prerogative.United we stand divided we fall.
BECKS #2
Posted on 18-10-2011 06:28 | By Crash test dummies
Well all know the Strand is a great place, yet the more TCC interfers in "ANYTHIBG" the more it costs, that of course is bad for business. It would be fair of for example the CBD was treated the same as elsewhere e.g. the Mount: footpath areas, car parking costs etc, but that is what you get when this lot voting now are simpletons following orders or when they do slip their collars every now and then they make a hash of it.
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