Growing Tauranga City's centre into the cultural and business hub of the future Western Bay of Plenty is taking time but is on track the city's mayor.

Mayor Stuart Crosby told councillors this week attention needs to be given to developing as well as other city retail developments in suburban centres.

Mayor Stuart Crosby says Tauranga City's centre is on track to becoming a cultural and business hub of the future.

'I think if you go out and ask the community they are rapt that they don't have to drive into the CBD and face half an hour travelling time when they want to buy something,” says Stuart.

'Bethlehem now is starting to evolve quite well. Palm Beach Plaza took some time. These things take a lead in time of some five years to gather momentum, it's going well, and it's for sale now.

'Fashion Island was slow, it's starting to work now - and people are asking me, when is Tauriko coming on stream?”

Stuart says when these suburban centres were planned it would have an impact on the CBD.

'That's why we started the city centre project. That's why we have changed the city plan. That's why we have got the tertiary project. That's why we have got the higher heights there - so there will be another lead-in time for the CBD to change in what it offers the community.”

It is the reasoning behind why the city council is putting significant resources and infrastructure into the city centre.

'It was always going to be the heart and culture place of the Western Bay of Plenty, and it always will be. It's not going to be Katikati or Papamoa beach or anywhere like that.' says Stuart.

'It's going to be the CBD, because that is what CBDs do. But this CBD is going through a transition and it's a long journey.”