A conflict between kiwifruit marketer Zespri and their Mount Maunganui neighbours has been unveiled today as submissions on the future of the block of council-owned land occupied by Zepsri and the Mount Maunganui library are heard.

Zespri wants to buy the whole block and develop the site as its long term headquarters, as stated in a submission to Tauranga City Council.

Zespri's proposal for the Mount Maunganui block.

According to the submission, Zespri is willing to consult with the community as they aim to provide room for their expanding staff requirements.

They are confident that the redevelopment can also include the library, child care facilities, green space, a café, gardens and meeting rooms for the public, as well as support as an industry hub for shippers and industry service providers.

Zespri expects staff levels to increase from 190 to 230 over the next three years. Temporary office space opening in May this year will house 60 staff.

The council received a total of 194 submissions, with 149 opposing council selling the land, 36 in favour and nine submissions that cannot be said to be either.

The land value of the 1.56ha site is set at $6.1 million, with the capital value at $11.8 million.

Zespri's proposal is to develop the site in three blocks - a 1100m2 building where the library is now, a 1700m2 office block facing Maunganui Road, and an ‘H' shaped 2250m2 building at the Matai Street end on the open grassed area where the Little Big Markets are currently held.

The city council wants to sell the land to cover debt, but submitter Stephen Bird has called this into question, criticising the council's process and a lack of information provided to the public.

'Nowhere in the document is there any evidence presented that backs up the assertion that selling this asset would reduce debt or contain rates,” says Stephen.

'There is no basis on which a rational decision can be made as the information provided is inadequate to assess the options presented.

'This makes it very difficult to comment on the relevance of the stated reasons for undertaking the review in the first place.”

According to Stephen, pursuing some of the options like relocating the library and the Mount Plunket pre-school could cost as much as the sale proceeds.

'I would have expected that such Information would be available,” he adds in his submission. 'I submit that if council seek to sell a community-owned asset, it is only fair that the community be given full information on which to make submissions.

'I think it is fair to say that given the lack of relevant Information provided there can be no meaningful consultation on the review proposal.”

While council claims it is developing a number of scenarios that would return the highest value from the site, there's no information to say what the scenarios are and what is meant by ‘highest value', says Stephen.

'I submit that while council is legally required to consult, this consultation has been undertaken far too soon in the process,” he says.

'However, it may be better to find out sooner rather than later what the community thinks of the land review proposals.”

People are speaking to the submissions from 1pm, until about 3.30pm this afternoon.