Civic Heart call next month

City councillors will decide if they are going to commit Tauranga to building a new council administration block on Tuesday, September 6.

Deliberations on Creating Tauranga's Civic Heart were originally scheduled for August 9, but were postponed to allow councillors more preparation time for the next phase of deliberations.


The council is set to make a decision on the civic heart rebuild next month.

Hearings were held on August 1, 2 and 3, following formal consultation from June 17 to July 18.

A total of 578 submissions were received on the proposed amendment to the Long Term Plan, which includes proposals to build a new civic administration building with surrounding open space on the Willow Street site, and transform Masonic Park into a civic square.

It also proposes setting aside funding to explore the feasibility of a museum, the best solution for providing fit-for-purpose library services in the city centre, and a new 1000-1200-seat performance venue on the site.

The meeting begins 9am.

Adoption of the audited Amendment to the Long Term Plan 2015-2025 is scheduled for Thursday, September 29.

The postponement was because of the number and the quality of submissions, Mayor Stuart Crosby said earlier.

Overall there is general support from the electorate for the council to take action and built a new administration building, says Stuart.

There's also strong support for some of the other facilities, the upgraded library, a possible museum and the performing arts centre. And a variation of themes for the open space as well.

'A lot of the thrust was, ‘Yes, do something. Look at the priorities, funding opportunities, and look at the delivery opportunities, and they are all excellent questions to pose to the council,” says Stuart.

'A lot of ‘Yes, but'. or yesses with caveats on it. ‘Yes we like it, but.' And that's fine.

'That's exactly what we wanted from the submissions. I know myself and I know I can talk for the elected members, we have been very happy with the response. The challenge now is what do we do to move forward. It will be an interesting debate.”

You may also like....

17 comments

Hmmmm

Posted on 17-08-2016 09:20 | By How about this view!

Selective hearing????


WAIT

Posted on 17-08-2016 09:24 | By tabatha

The council should wait until the elections are over and then deliberate.


Civic centre

Posted on 17-08-2016 09:41 | By surfsup

So there is an overwhelming support for the new building, not from the people I have spoken to , but as we know this council doesn't,t listen to the ratepayers. We have the wharf street fiasco which clearly doesn't, work the same person who devised this great plan is now looking at McLean street , and the council has approved the $600.000 support for the hockey centre which seems to have been kept very quiet. All in all a council running rampant with ratepayers $$$$$$$$.


A bunch of cloth ears

Posted on 17-08-2016 10:06 | By philiphallen

Vote em all out at the next election. At least they wont benefit from a new comfortable seat. Withhold our rates to the value that they want to spend.


Daanz

Posted on 17-08-2016 10:09 | By AP

I agree we should wait until the elections especially after reading the article on Steve Morris (standing for Mayor)in the Weekend Sun oon 12/8/16.His views on the civic centre make great sence as does his view on the proposed grandstand the Domain. He proposes sorting the Turret Road /15th Ave congestion by using money saved from not doing the civic centre and grandstand. He has a nice to have but not necessary attitude. I didnt know of this candidate until I read the article. I like his thinking.


Minds made up

Posted on 17-08-2016 10:17 | By Chris

Is anyone under any illusion here that the councillors haven't already made their mind up? They have the opportunity to get brand new flash digs at someone else's expense - this is happening whether we like it or not.


@ tabatha

Posted on 17-08-2016 10:45 | By Crash test dummies

yes they should but you are talking about effectively kids in the lolly shop, they will not be able to help themselves but have a big spend up as a final k-sera to ratepayers .... gotcha!


Almost a secret

Posted on 17-08-2016 11:05 | By Accountable

Have you noticed that the total cost of the three buildings that Council staff want to build is almost a secret?The total cost for the administration building, the museum/library and the performance center will be well over $200.000,000.00 yes that's right over two hundred million dollars for the completed project!!!!!!. They didn't tell you that before the submissions.There will be very little done in the city when you take that amount of money out the ratepayers coffers.


Now is a great time for honesty

Posted on 17-08-2016 12:59 | By The author of this comment has been removed.

Ask each hopeful mayor or council member "Do you support a council administration building in the CBD?" Yes or No. We can then vote accordingly...


@AP

Posted on 17-08-2016 13:03 | By BullShtAlert

Steve Morris is part of the current Council. Seems strange that his views on the civic centre and stadium seem to only be expressed now at election time? Also quite a few candidates have the same concerns about the need for essentials before other things. Are you going to promote them too???


PREDETERMINATION

Posted on 17-08-2016 14:04 | By Colleen Spiro

I attended a meeting at the Council Chambers when they were discussion if they should ask the Public, if should go ahead and seek the Publics opinion, to go ahead with feasability studies. I was standing next to Councillors before the meeting started and SHE was saying it was a no brainer, that it HAD TO GO AHEAD....then when the meeting started, they spent the 1st half hour discussing that the outcome was not to be predetermined.....YEAH RIGHT


Civi Centre

Posted on 17-08-2016 14:12 | By jeancraven@kinect.co.nz

Defer this decision until after local body elections.


@ Big Ted

Posted on 17-08-2016 18:11 | By Dazed and Confused

Perfect answer.


Yes

Posted on 17-08-2016 18:37 | By overit

Yes Ted I agree. I was under the impression that folks were against this lavish, grossly overpriced project. It would seem its a done deal.


Whoa they are away with the fairies again

Posted on 18-08-2016 08:39 | By kellbell

Ratepayers chequebook, inane proposals concepts ,ideas and fuzzy logic-Yeah wait til you see the whites of their eyes then let them have it fair and square.WTF


RATEPAYER PAPAMOA BIG SPEND??

Posted on 18-08-2016 13:24 | By Watcher 1

Have ratepayers viewed this over 2 million "BIG" Spend on Gordon Spratt Reserve and the big cost of Bridges to access Steve's Grandstand??How does the Papamoa Schools young pupils access it in SAFELY?Perhaps Money would have been spent on raising Parton Road including possibly a Flyover over the Wairakei Stream which has flooded Parton Road from 1995, 2005 as well as later.A raised road Flyover would have got both people and vehicles out a lot more safely as well as providing for Steves raised Tsunami pad without the loss of much needed future sports fields.Is it correct that he is also advocating a stop to 4 laneing Te Akaroa drive? contrary to what was tabled as needed at the Commissioner Heard hearings on widening even Tara Road?.Maybe Steve should be looking at a Park and Ride facility on NZTA Lands on the Doncastor Drive


Until the Elections they pay no price for this madness

Posted on 19-08-2016 07:46 | By ROCCO

Any Councillor that votes for this aberration on 5 September vote them out at the upcoming Elections -they have no place in running (mismanaging) Tauranga City affairs financial or otherwise.


Leave a Comment


You must be logged in to make a comment.