Western Bay of Plenty District Council is seeking community views on a proposal to develop a new medical centre on a section of the Beach Road Recreation Reserve.

Primary Health Care Limited (PHCL) has asked the council to lease part of the reserve so it can build a new medical centre to meet the growing needs of the community.

PHCL is a not-for-profit organisation and currently operates the Waihī Beach Medical Centre on Wilson Rd.

Council agreed in principle to approve the application at its Projects and Monitoring Committee meeting on August 15, which would see 1137sq m of the reserve – about 30% – reclassified to Local Purpose Reserve.

Reclassifying the land

The new facility would include car parks, accessways and landscaping, while the rest of the reserve would remain as an open green space for public use.

Reclassifying the land would allow the medical facility to be located on the reserve, but it would not impact the council’s ownership of the land, which would remain protected by its reserve status.

Artist impression of the proposed site supplied by Primary Health Care Limited. Image / Supplied

The land would be leased for 17 years under a long-term “Community Impact Partnership Agreement”, with an option to renew for another 15 years. Under the Reserves Act 1977, leases are allowed for up to 33 years.

The community are invited to share their views on the proposal, with consultation open from today, November 28, until February 8, 2026. Feedback will then be shared with councillors to help guide a final decision in February/March 2026.

Drop-in session December 12

Those wanting to find out more are invited to a community drop-in session on Saturday, December 13, at Te Ara Mātauranga Waihī Beach Library and Service Centre, where representatives from PHCL and council staff will be available to answer questions.

“The existing medical centre is privately owned and unable to expand. It is no longer fit to keep up with what the community needs from its local health service,” PHCL deputy chief executive Batami Pundak said.

“A new facility would help ensure people can get the care they need close to home, with more clinical rooms, improved urgent-care capacity and space for visiting specialists. With extra room to train future GPs, we hope to attract more doctors to the area and better serve the Waihī Beach community,” Pundak said.

“After several years of exploring alternative options, we have identified a partnership with council as a viable way forward to build a new medical centre.”

Have your say

Western Bay of Plenty District Council reserves and facilities manager Peter Watson encouraged people to come along to the information session to learn more about the proposal, ask questions directly of council and PHCL representatives and share their views.

“We’ve extended the consultation period out to 10 weeks, so it spans the peak summer season when many home owners and residents are in town,” Watson said.

“This is longer than usual and we hope it will give everyone a real chance to get involved and share their thoughts.”

To find out more and to have your say about PHCL’s proposal to lease part of Beach Road Recreation Reserve for a new Waihī Beach Medical Centre visit: yourplace.westernbay.govt.nz/proposed-new-waihi-beach-medical-centre.