Tauranga City Council's decision to extend the loading zone outside its new digs is ruffling some feathers amongst their neighbours.

The city council converted three car parks on The Strand extension to a loading zone outside the Westpac Building, which is now home to about 200 displaced city council staff.

The new loading zone extension on The Strand.

But city transportation manager Martin Parkes insists the measure was absolutely necessary.

'We've done an assessment of available parking, and just looking out the window now, it's at best 50 per cent occupied,” says Martin about the extension parking.

'The issue is we are running a big business here and we need to make sure we are running it as efficiently as possible.

'So in order for council staff to pop into the building, pick up files and go out on site and do the business they need to do, we need the additional loading area to conduct that business.”

Martin adds that it is not an exclusive loading zone council vehicles only - it's there for anyone who wants to load and unload.

The new zone has a P15 time limit, and there are plenty of other car parks along the extension for the public to use, he says.

'We will monitor the situation,” explains Martin, 'and if the loading zone doesn't get used we will assess the situation. They are both being used at the moment.”

Council staff are being temporarily housed in the Westpac Building while the leaking, mouldy civic administration block is cleaned up.

Council staff are enjoying their temporary office, says Martin, who now has a temporary office with a harbour view.

'It's quite inspiring when you come in in the morning,” he says.

'It puts you in a good mood for the day. When you have a nice working environment, morale is improved.

'There's no doubt about it - it is noticeable. For anyone, a nice working environment does help. We will make the most of it while we have got it.”