The decision to turn the Youth Hostel Association building in Elizabeth Street into a nightshelter for the homeless will be actioned at the Tauranga City Council today.
Council approved the use of the 0.3408 hectare council reserve-land near the roundabout with Takitimu Drive for the nightshelter purpose on April 22.
The current YHA Hostel is set to be transformed into a nightshelter for homeless.
Today the council will change the purpose of the reserve under the Reserves Act, because the existing purpose of the reserve doesn't support it being used as a nightshelter.
The legally required submission process resulted in five submissions, with two opposing the proposal.
The public expressed concerns about a potential increase in the number of homeless people prevalent in the area, and ensuring appropriate security measures are put in place.
The recommendation before the Council today is to respond to the submissions and carry on.
The land at 171 Elizabeth Street is currently a Local Purpose Reserve used as Youth Hostel and Clubrooms pursuant to the Reserves Act 1977. To be able to be used as a nightshelter, the purpose within the reserve classification must be changed to a Local Purpose (building for homeless support services and shelter and community purposes) Reserve.
Also requiring a decision today is the ratification of the culmination of the six year process updating City Plan.
Part of the delay is because of the appeals process, which on the issue of the location of the Te Tumu Pa, had to go to the Environment Court.
The historically significant Pa site is under the Wairakei future urban growth area in the vicinity of the Kaituna River mouth. The Court was required to draw the line bounding the Significant Archaeological Area and Significant Maori Area within the future urban zone.
The Court's decision was issued in February and not appealed. The Plan is amended and the Council is now required under the RMA to approve the plan in full and make it operative through public notification.
The plan, which also delineates building heights in the CBD, and population density levels for developers, will become fully operative five working days from when Council publicly notifies its decision.
9 comments
Overit
Posted on 16-06-2014 11:39 | By overit
Great, perhaps this will encourage a few more people to opt out for this kind of lifestyle.
Needed
Posted on 16-06-2014 12:27 | By freedomkiwis
This is wonderful. We do need something like this in Tga. It is sad to see people living on the streets and I can certainly understand how it might happen, especially when you look at the cost of rents and how much a person gets on unemployment benefit. I hope this shelter gets some funding from donations so that it can also look at providing perhaps a soup kitchen as well. I would certainly volunteer my services to assist here.
Why There?
Posted on 16-06-2014 13:37 | By tabatha
yes there is a place for a shelter, but why down in that area. How often will they all use? What other problems can be forseen with their actions on the express way. Carefull thought needed. Also what happens to the YHA Hostel. Great asset to Tauranga and overseas tourists. Some real compensation needed. Once again TCC spending money on what we said hold fire on. All departments need to cut nebulous spending
tabatha
Posted on 16-06-2014 14:33 | By Colleen Spiro
what actions do you foresee that these homeless people will perform on the expressway?
Excellent.
Posted on 16-06-2014 15:11 | By dgk
Sad to see some people opposed to helping the homeless. This is an excellent location, and good to see private enterprise involved.
Why????
Posted on 16-06-2014 18:04 | By Sambo Returns
would a homeless person want to spend any money on a shower and a bed, as that is a few dollars that cannot be spent on drugs, the rain is cleansing so they must be clean at the moment, a bed under someones porch is all you require when you cannot even stand up, are we at risk here of creating and gaining more homeless?.
@kiaora2u
Posted on 16-06-2014 19:14 | By tabatha
Always worry about thee ones with a brown paper bag and their staggering walk on footpaths, obviously they could wander over the drain and fences. and if dgk is looking at me being against shelters i am not, but positioning is important. Why not on property that is low usage that the counicl owns! I feel I wouldlike to know what is going to happen to the YHA hostel and the service they provide. TCC giveth in hand and taketh in the other.
A bit of warmth
Posted on 16-06-2014 23:18 | By awaroa
and compassion will go a long way. I say this is as wonderful as freedomkiwis and supporters say it is. No two ways about it.
transport
Posted on 17-06-2014 11:19 | By Ross01
Who. and at a cost to whom, is going to transport these people from their downtown haunts to the night shelter? I can't see these people trudging down there on their own
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