Tauranga City councillors are eying up the sale of land currently housing Mount Maunganui Library and Zespri to further reduce debt - but they'll need to get it past the public first.
Public consultation on the 384-410 Maunganui Road Strategic Land Review is now open.
The land at 384-410 Maunganui Road. Photo: Chris Callinan.
Tauranga City Council is looking at options for the land it owns at this site and elected members would like to hear the community's views on the future of the site.
This may include selling part or all of the land, which is currently occupied by the Mount Library, Mount Plunket Preschool and Zespri.
The site also contains a park, which is used by locals as well as The Little Big Markets, whichare held there once a month.
The 1.56 hectare site is zoned commercial under the City Plan and has a current height limit of 12m, which translates to three-to-four storeys.
Elected members want to further reduce debt, and selling part or all of 384-410 Maunganui Road would support this.
The public consultation comes after the conflicting community versus commercial use debate during Zespri's successful application to build temporary office accommodation on parkland in Miro Street.
Last month work began on developing 648m2 of temporary, two-year office accommodation next to its current offices, on the Miro street side adjacent to the carpark.
The former Mount Maunganui Borough Council chambers currently house 190 Zespri staff and the development, expected to be complete by April, will house 60 of them.
It is expected the temporary lease will still allow the community to use the balance of the land as a park, and The Little Big Markets will continue to operate on the site.
Council will have a stall at The Little Big Markets this Saturday for people to share their views with elected members.
Open days with elected members and council staff will be held at Mount Library on Thursday February 12 and Thursday February 26, from 11am to 1pm.
To view the consultation booklet and make a submission, go to: www.tauranga.govt.nz. Hard copy submission forms and consultation booklets are available from Tauranga City Council's Willow Street office and the Mount Library.
Submissions close on March 2 at 4pm.
6 comments
Public consultation
Posted on 03-02-2015 15:37 | By Jitter
with TCC is a facade as they take very little notice no matter how serious and sensible ratepayers ideas are. They only follow the ideas and suggestions put forward by the domineering administration staff and CEO. Ratepayers are very rarely right.
Hands Off
Posted on 03-02-2015 16:13 | By Savi
The council will only waste the money . At least there is money being generated from the site and what of the fate of the library, is that another part of the cost cutting? The land is being used by the General public, also known as rate payers, and it is nice to have a green area that is not designated solely for sport
Sell
Posted on 03-02-2015 21:16 | By Capt_Kaveman
Land on the Tauranga side 1st not THE MOUNTS land
Retain and reduce debt.
Posted on 04-02-2015 11:36 | By Murray.Guy
Use the development contribution for reserves to effectively purchase the vacant land and rezone it 'Reserve'. This is a win/win. Green space preserved and debt reduced. Council and buildings don't have a great track record so an option could be to sell the land and buildings, lease back the library and avoid on-going depreciation and overheads associated with ownership. More debt reduced and fixed outgoings.
Selling valuable land is silly
Posted on 04-02-2015 12:28 | By BullShtAlert
Council is probably getting a commercial return from Zespri, so no need to sell. If we sold the land beneath the library we'd just end up paying rent to use it. Not sensible.
What of the future for Preschool and Library
Posted on 04-02-2015 13:36 | By Planesailor
I note with interest that Murray Guy's "principle residence is not within the Mt Maunganui/ Papamoa Ward as advised in the Tauranga city Council Candidate Profiles. The library and preschool are long standing community assets and used by the Mount community. I agree with debt reduction - selling off a community library and preschool... There has to be other opportunities. Opposed
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