Tauranga councillors are poised to approve the addition of tidal stairs, a new pier and pontoon for the city's waterfront at next week's Monitoring Committee meeting.
Mayor Stuart Crosby has stated that community feedback on the access has been overwhelmingly positive.
An artist's impression of the proposed waterfront features in Tauranga. Photo: Supplied.
Following the committee's approval, council staff will complete a detailed design with the aim of having the stairs, pier and pontoon ready for the summer of 2016/17.
'Feedback from the community on the concept was an overwhelming ‘yes please, go ahead and make it happen,'” says Stuart.
'Our waterfront is a significant part of our city's history and culture, and is such a jewel in our crown, so it's exciting to be able to make it more accessible for people to enjoy the water and engage with events and activities in our city centre.”
The indicative cost for building the proposed tidal stairs, Masonic pier and pontoon within such a challenging environment ranges between $2.6 million and $3.2 million.
These costs will be refined once the detailed design is completed. That stage will consider engineering, safety, ongoing maintenance and resource consent requirements.
Council's Long Term Plan 2015-2025 allocated $8 million, to be spent in the first five years, for city centre and waterfront development aimed at improving the streetscape, waterfront and open spaces.
The access to water project has been developed in parallel with the Tauranga City Centre Spatial Framework – a visual representation of what we want our public spaces, streets and waterfront to be.
30 comments
Overit
Posted on 03-12-2015 14:50 | By overit
Let the circus begin-wonder how much it will blow out past Budget?
Why didn't council wait?
Posted on 03-12-2015 15:22 | By How about this view!
With this development being green-lighted, why was the reconstruction of the harbour wall outside the Sebel trinity not delayed? Surely this would have resulted in significant cost savings if it were done as part of the redevelopment?? Too easy maybe?
Enhancing our city
Posted on 03-12-2015 18:22 | By dstewart
There are always old fogeys who want to keep Tauranga back in the 1950s. They have been the same for the 40 years we have lived here and it has been a real struggle to get the amenities of a modern city. The same people fought against Baycourt and the harbour bridge.
Why the cars??
Posted on 03-12-2015 18:59 | By Louisa
Could someone please explain why the Strand between Wharf and Harrington Streets appears to remain open to traffic in this plan???? Surely the key to easy access between the Strand and the waterfront is a pedestrian only zone?
Democracy shelved again
Posted on 03-12-2015 20:08 | By ROCCO
we hear the same old hackneyed B/S about overwhelming support - from whom exactly"?.Let's have a Tauranga resident submission process then we will see what support there is for this water monster.
SORRY
Posted on 03-12-2015 22:39 | By The Caveman
The indicative cost for building the proposed tidal stairs, Masonic pier and pontoon within such a challenging environment ranges between $2.6 million and $3.2 million. - How about we get REAL, try $7 million. These projects are ALWAYS under estimated to get the underway, and once underway the real cost has to be met - "we cannot not finish the job". PUT IT IN YOU DIARY - I predict $7 million - wait and see........
Much doubt
Posted on 04-12-2015 08:41 | By nerak
About Stuart
So.....
Posted on 04-12-2015 09:05 | By Jimmy Ehu
8m allowed to be spent in the1st 5 years, how much has been spent already? and why throw out totally unsubstantiated costs for this development, when the final cost on these plans is set t
Doom and gloom
Posted on 04-12-2015 09:09 | By bubbles
Come on people! Its always doom and gloom for some people! Always bleating on about how much things are going to cost! The pros far outweigh the cons! Its about time something was done to improve the Strand Waterfront, and include easy and safe access to the water. Now we and generations after us will have a reason to come into town and enjoy the waterfront. I say great call!
Safety?
Posted on 04-12-2015 10:27 | By Mackka
Who will be held responsible when the first toddler is found drowned at the bottom of the steps?
@ ROCCO
Posted on 04-12-2015 10:33 | By Colleen Spiro
The questions were asked of people at the Boat/Marine show held on the waterfront.....but yes I would like to see the proof. I take my grandchildren to the park on the waterfront and have to be vigilant with a 7 year old, who disappears, like kids do and I find him walking the concrete near the water.....NOW if he disappears down the stairs, I will not be able to see him....I will have to have my eye on his sister as well....They were going to close the fountain at Memorial Park because one mother didn't supervise her child properly....This is way bigger that the fountain. Maybe the park needs to be fenced, so children cannot just wander off....I am a very responsible grandparent, but I can see safety issues.
Responsibility
Posted on 04-12-2015 11:07 | By bubbles
Really?? We're asking the question of who takes responsibility if a child wanders down the stairs into the water? I have a child, and while its difficult to keep your eye on them all of the time, responsibility falls solely on the parents. Do we blame the person who built our car with a reverse gear if we (heaven forbid) happen to reverse into our kid on the driveway? Or maybe blame the person who poured the concrete? No way! Your child is yours, my child is mine. You are responsible for yours as I am for mine.
Safety issue...please
Posted on 04-12-2015 11:10 | By Juma
Mackka - how about some responsibility on, oh I don't know, bloody parents? Life is full of situations and circumstances where there is "risk" or common sense decision making. Trying to bubble wrap structures or new development because a parent doesn't supervise correctly is an absolute dead argument on your part. Take some personal responsibility or stay at home, all nice and safe...except for all the potential dangers there as well. What will we do to protect ourselves?
Hey bubbles!!!!!
Posted on 04-12-2015 14:05 | By Jimmy Ehu
Sorry to burst yours, but to me it has never been against informed and community accepted development of our treasured waterfront, more about the "twaddle" that comes out of Council about it, you show me what they are proposing for the cost given, that 51 percent of the city ratepayers are happy with, I will stop my criticism of them......., Tauranga will end up enhancing its reputation as the "$10" village with many little add ons, never once being cohesive, do it all, do it once, and cut the "spin" true indicative costs please?.
Responsibility
Posted on 04-12-2015 14:36 | By Mackka
No way have I intimated that parents are not responsible for their children. Any idiot knows that they are. BUT - if and when a drowning occurs - do you really think the safety aspect will not be visited back upon the council? After all - look at the crazy laws regarding fencing of pools in private properties.
Child Safety
Posted on 04-12-2015 14:58 | By flashmedallion
Perhaps the pier and pontoon could be built in a safer place for children, maybe in the Domain?
any day now...
Posted on 04-12-2015 15:42 | By Juma
"Any idiot knows that", like I believe that. Assumed common sense is in light demand these days, just look at some of the comments posted here. I say we take the next step and fence the beaches off totally as well. In case someone falls, rolls down the beach and drowns...how do you really regulate safety when we allow any numpty to become the guardian of a life, but yet we have to design around their inadequacies.
Child Safety
Posted on 04-12-2015 16:07 | By yourthumb
@flashmedallion And force children to cross the road?! Obviously you don't have children, otherwise you wouldn't say such a horrible thing.
steps
Posted on 04-12-2015 16:38 | By Colleen Spiro
This is not like a normal beach situation, where you can walk straight onto the beach....children will walk down the steps and disappear out of sight.....just as well parents/grand parents have eyes in the back of their heads
The bigger picture
Posted on 05-12-2015 07:36 | By bubbles
This shouldn't be about the past inadequacies of the Tauranga City Council. Yes, they've suggested some horrible things in the past (Putting the Tupperwaka on the Strand was one) But they were outvoted and that didnt happen. But this I believe would turn the strand from what is now a useless piece of land with an amazing waterfront view to something that will only enhance it especially in the summer months. Look at the bigger picture. Its time to stop spouting negativity and become a solution to the problem not a part of it. I swear some people just enjoy hating on any and all council suggestions. I own my own house and I pay rates and I welcome any viable and forward thinking suggestions.
I really don't mind either way, but
Posted on 05-12-2015 10:06 | By groutby
I would have to ask as to why there seems to be so much "outcry" about something which is not, and should never be in the hands of anyone apart from parents or those immediately responsible for children.As the father of five and grandparent of ten,I have always firmly believed in total parental responsibility.To risk a possible advantage to our fabulous city due to those who feel unable to take such responsibility is absurd. I do hope we can firm up and lock in a firm costing tho, so we all know the likely outcome, surely any likely and experienced company able to undertake the work will also be experienced enough to know the cost and lock it in before any work is done? Any such "cost overruns" in the private sector would surely not be tolerated.
Agree Groutby
Posted on 05-12-2015 12:20 | By Taffy
Particularly with your last sentence. Secondly Bubbles I think you will find most people do want viable & forward thinking suggestions its just the process that TCC tend to go through that people don,t like.ie all these secret squirrel meetings that still go ahead despite all the rhetoric to the contrary that this council would be more open They are worse just look at council agenda items re items discussed in private 9 times out of 10 due to being deemed commercially sensitive so easy to exclude the public. TCC seem to use consulants for everything why have so many staff especially with 550 of which over a hundred earn in excess of $100k plus. The CAG done studies why more? Why do TCC want to own a boat lift?
Firm costing
Posted on 05-12-2015 13:14 | By Crash test dummies
In Council terms that means what ever they say it will be double if ratepayers are lucky.
Fishing
Posted on 13-12-2015 16:57 | By peecee09
Don't forget to design the pier for Fishing. ie holes for rods, bait cutting plank, hose taps for hands and cleaning, shade, a high pressure water outlet to stop steps from becoming slippery, and perhaps some hand rails on steps.
@ peecee09
Posted on 17-12-2015 12:42 | By Crash test dummies
Make that triple.
TCC spend ups
Posted on 23-12-2015 14:41 | By Crash test dummies
So in the beginning ... once a upon a time ... TCC got knocked back on spending $20m odd of borrowed money on the fiasco. Looks to me that the momentum is picking up and surely the $20m and some will be spent on window dressing the bitumen/concrete beach in the CBD. Don't they know already that it is a complete waste of time.
Tauranga nay sayers are at it again
Posted on 23-12-2015 18:33 | By s83cruiser
what a sad city....I love Tauranga but I get heartily sick of the people in this city that wan to stop anything and everything that may see a modernization of the city. What would you all prefer this proposal or the Plastic Waka. As for the ones that have banged on about kids drowning maybe the TCC should dam up the harbour entrances and make the whole area kid proof or maybe it's time people took FULL responsibility for their children and looked after them themselves instead of expecting everyone else to do it. You had the kid you be responsible for it. I had to with my children or is this just part of the NANNY WORLD we are allowing the PC brigade to create.
To s83cruiser
Posted on 28-12-2015 11:24 | By Accountable
Why should Council employ 6 or more staff to check on the safety of the backyard swimming pools when they insist on building a water facility in the most dangerous place in the city? Whats good for the goose is good for the gander.
@ s83cruiser
Posted on 30-12-2015 11:04 | By Crash test dummies
I think that the issue is simple, you are like the officials looking only at the end result item, the glossy wonders created and then sit back and think "how wonderful thou art" ... sadly no thought at all even gets a look in about the consequences, the effects and so on. This is so because no one in TCC has had a real job, you know a job where results are the decider on having the job tomorrow. Creating numbers does not cut it. When you get to the end of it all a bunch of nerds are borrow lots of money in the name of all ratepayers, that future generations must work to pay it off. That the money is quite simply being wasted.
Look forward
Posted on 02-01-2016 13:28 | By TJ
Auckland viaduct basin has been developed into a thriving beautiful waterfront place to dine and stroll around, attracting lots of people to spend money. Sydney harbour, again a fantastic waterfront development. Its what we need to attract people. We have such a beautiful harbour. I always wonder why Tauranga is so far behind other cities - we don't even have public gardens, we have to go to Hamilton for that.
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