A city council cost-cutting exercise could see the tropical display house in Robbins Park close next year – unless the local community are prepared to step in.

The survival of the display house will depend on a community response in the long-term plan consultation process, say Tauranga City councillors.

Survival of the Robbins Park hot house is on the line. Photos: Tracy Hardy.

Unless people are prepared to step up and take over the management of the 60-year-old building, it will be sacrificed as a cost saving measure.

Options to reduce the tropical plant display hours were first considered in the draft 2014/15 annual plan, but a decision was deferred because councillors said at that time it hadn't been highlighted in the consultation process.

Closure of the tropical display house in June 2016, when the current maintenance contract expires, will save the city council around $100,000 a year.

The contract is worth about $97,000, while heating and lighting the building costs $3000, says Parks and Recreation acting manager Kiri Pope.

Staff say based on visitor book entries, there are only about two visitors a day, but councillor Bev Edlin says she's often visited and taken friends without signing the visitor's book.

Councillors are hoping a community group will step up during the consultation process and take over the tropical plant display house. The council will continue to pay the energy bills, but the community will have to pay for new planting, says councillor Rick Curach.

The fate of the glasshouse is partially a result of the reduced mowing strategy. In September 2014 the council began allowing the grass to grow in some reserves as a money saving measure.

But complaint numbers grew as quickly as the grass, with children unable to play ball games, dog owners less inclined to clean up after their pets and weather conditions rendering the long grass a fire hazard.

The reduced mowing measure was expected save $45,000. The measure reduced mowing costs by $15,000 this financial year.