The community engagement process over the TECT proposal to build a community hub on land at the historic village in 17^th Avenue is to begin almost immediately so the final decision on the proposal can be made in February.

The Tauranga Energy Consumer's Trust wants to build a two storey, $10 million community services hub on about 4,790m2 of land currently occupied by the Envirohub building, which TECT will relocate once final approval is obtained.

The appearance of the building can be altered, the council was told.

The proposal is to build a two story building providing office space for the voluntary sector, in what Western Bay of Plenty District Councillor Garry Webber says will be a game changer for the Western Bay of Plenty.

Speaking in the public forum, Garry says funding for duplicated office space is the most haunting concern in all his experience volunteering in the social sector.

'There are a myriad of organisations doing good works in the community, and I estimate nearly 100 per cent of them are running their own back office systems, telephone answering system, office accommodation which are only used on part time basis,” says Garry.

In the recent Smart Growth social sector review the most common theme is a desperate desire in the volunteer community for social sector community hub where many voluntary organisations could work together collaboratively and so be far more efficient delivering the real services for those they serve.

'Councils and the philanthropic community every year receive many requests for funding from the voluntary sector, and many of those request are to cover the cost of administration,” says Garry.

TECT is proposing to buy the land form the city council and TECT chairman Bill Holland says they know there are drainage issues.

'I didn't realise it's a damn swamp,” says Bill. 'There's a spring there. I didn't realise that. I often wondered why it wasn't used more often and the answer is it is wet, too wet to sit on.”

There is an engineering solution, says Bill, and TECT has obtained a report saying building the proposed two story building on site will cost, but it can be done.

'We have said at the outset we will pay what it's worth, less what it costs to make it worth what it is,” says Bill.

'If the council want to do the whole thing itself, it can. That will be great if you can get the land to the state where it can actually be built on, then we will buy it.

'We are working with a totally open book as to what it's going to cost to get to that point.

'I think you have picked up on the fact that TECT is not doing this as an investment. We know that it will not be a good investment.”

There will be a covenant so that if TECT ever stops using it as a community services hub, then the city council can buy it back, says Bill.

'We are probably the only driver big enough, with the resources to be able to do it in the community,” says Bill. 'From the council point of view it's a wonderful solution. You have a village down there which needs revitalising, and this will do it.”

TECT just paid for two bridges across the Kopurererua stream, linking and opening up the cycle paths and trails up and down the valley.

There will be a lot of people in the village using the TECT facility and existing village, says Bill.

'I love the idea of a café at the village, and you go off and cycle around those paths, footpaths. There's so much potential for what can be done down there.

'I don't think anybody in the community needs to be afraid of what TECT is doing, in fact they should be absolutely delighted because it will enhance that as a community asset.”