More than 2000 people submitted feedback during the first stage of community engagement for the Civic Space Options Project.
‘Stage 1: Heart and Mind' asked for the community's thoughts on what a civic heart meant to them and what the Tauranga City Council needs to do to develop the city's identity and invoke pride in the city centre.
More than 2000 people submitted feedback during the first stage of community engagement for the Civic Space Options Project. Photo: File
Elected members asked the project's steering group to investigate the following scope elements: council offices, library, museum, performance venue, city square, conference centre, hotel, retail and hospitality activity, and accessibility.
Councillor Gail McIntosh says other aims of the first stage was to ask people what experiences they expect from a civic heart and to raise awareness of the project in the community.
'Overall, the feedback from the community has been positive in that people want a more vibrant and active city centre, and that they want a city centre where they feel connected and a sense of community,” says Gail.
'On the whole, the community see that there is massive opportunity in Tauranga city centre to incorporate essential elements in a growing city.”
City Transformation general manager Jaine Lovell-Gadd says the project team is now assessing the wider economic and social benefits, costs and funding options for the scope elements, and how a civic heart might look and feel.
To do this the team is working with internationally-renowned architects Warren and Mahoney, landscape architects and urban designers LandLAB, New Zealand Institute of Economic Research, Urban Economics and the Giblin Group.
'Using a multi-criteria analysis tool, we will provide several viable options to present to Elected Members, and to the community as part of the next community engagement stages.
'This will help inform the community ahead of the Long Term Plan Amendment, where the community will be invited to have a say and be part of the decision-making,” says Jaine.
The Civic Space Options Project will determine the best options for council office accommodation and assess how this could be a catalyst for other opportunities in the city centre.
The project was formed in July of last year following the discovery of toxic mould in council's Willow Street buildings in November 2014.
FEEDBACK SUBMITTED DURING THE FIRST STAGE INCLUDES:
- There is massive potential in the city centre
- Council offices should be within the city centre
- A civic heart must include a library
- A civic square and open space is a must
- Improved bus services and walking and cycling links in the city centre, and more pedestrian-friendly areas
- A museum would be great
- Yes, to a performance venue in the city centre
- Making the most of the waterfront is a fantastic opportunity
- Need more people living in the city centre
To read more community feedback from Stage 1: Heart and Mind visit: www.tauranga.govt.nz/civicheart
43 comments
Cut the crap!!!!!
Posted on 21-04-2016 17:54 | By Jimmy Ehu
You have ripped the heart out of the CBD, which has now become so dysfunctional no matter what expense you go to and try and breathe life back into it, it's too bloody late, the damage has been done, leave it as it is, a sad lonely soon to become student village, full of $2 shops and pubs with " happy hours" every hour, it will find its own identity, forget about millions to be spent on consultants, once something is dead it is dead!!!, sad but true, the boat has sailed and the concentration should be turning the northern waterfront , redoubt area into something we can actually be proud of, but for all the submissions none will be listened to, it's just not the way Council do things, a boutique sports stadium at the domain would be a start!!!.
Porkies
Posted on 21-04-2016 18:40 | By Accountable
We,the stakeholders in the CBD are hearing a completely different version of this press release. Who is telling porkies?
agree with JIMMY EHU
Posted on 21-04-2016 19:45 | By old trucker
hi jimmy,ya bro jack norhe here, agree with you all the way,nothing will be listened to,remember you need a BRAIN to be there,and none have one as all this BULL dust is a mirror,no one or 2,ooo submitted feedback,,only TCC shiny bums who spend their days under the bosses desk polishing his ---- shoes,these blinkin project teams are a waste of time,most spend a hour in red square drinking coffee with their lanyards turned around,then go back to so called work,stand and have a bonding session,and then its lunch unlimited time,(NO TIMECLOCK)another meeting and knock off,all with their little backpacks,off to their little burrows,and do it all togeather,who keeps a eye on 525 staff, its open slather there,very picky bunch,Jimmy you are spot on,and im going to show them me finger i hurt in cricket,so going to sit on me log for a double tipple.thanks sunlive.
Jimmy Ehu
Posted on 21-04-2016 21:06 | By How about this view!
I have got to agree with you. We don't deserve a flash, sparkly new civic centre, particularly when we don't care for what we currently have. I sat at the bus stops the other week and heard four teenagers discussing which one of them was going to transport the drugs, I watched as a group of drunks wandered around looking for cigarette butts with a dog (not on a leash), there was a large group of youth from the local schools, hanging around looking for trouble, passing around the smokes and the RTD's and I later find out that a bus driver was assaulted by one of the troublemakers that turn up looking for something to do. The police are regular visitors, particularly when the students and vagrants are about (NOT safe for your children or grandchildren) Clean-up the CBD first and make it a space worthy of improvement.
Sorry Jimmy
Posted on 21-04-2016 21:53 | By Murray.Guy
I align with some of your thinking but I'm sorry, to use our iconic, historic and culturally significance Tauranga Domain with it's views over the harbour for a boutique sports stadium isn't going to happen. The area is best suited and deserving of being transformed into family and individual passive use, gardens, the arts, historical and cultural pursuits, walkways and an over Chapel Street pedestrian/cycle bridge through to the Elms (that will include our museum aspirations), leading on the expanded ross gardens on Cliff Rd and down to Dive Crescent. This will bring folk from all walks of live, local and tourist, to our CBD and waterfront on a daily basis, NOT just a few times a year, and a fraction of the cost! Forget the rugby and beer, smell the flowers Jimmy.
Dead Town
Posted on 21-04-2016 22:05 | By Raewyn
Jimmy sums it up, Tauranga is going to become a Students haven with its Bars Etc., no need to spend millions on a town centre that ratepayers wont even visit! Go to America all the family action is in the suburbs!
All messed up
Posted on 21-04-2016 22:25 | By Crash test dummies
I can not see any merit in the wish list above, the only way you are going to pay for this irresponsible overspend up is debt-debt-debt ... the effect on rates will be somewhere around $30 million annually before thinking about paying off debt, any debt. Expect a 30% rates increase.
Gotta laugh ...
Posted on 21-04-2016 22:26 | By Crash test dummies
"Funding Sources" Hmmmm let me see, ummmmm Ratepayers, that is the only source and it is going cost dearly.
But wait there's more
Posted on 22-04-2016 08:02 | By The author of this comment has been removed.
Vehicle access mustn't be overlooked. My suggestion is to close Devonport Road and the Strand to all vehicles, pedestrians only. (There is already service lane access for most businesses or no vehicles say 9am ~ 5pm. Let the CBD about people, not the motor vehicle. I don't enjoy having a meal with a truck pumping fumes at me, boy racers etc whilst I dine!
Mr Murray....
Posted on 22-04-2016 08:35 | By Jimmy Ehu
Take your nose out of an exhaust pipe and realise that I have been advocating for years on turning the northern waterfront area and redoubt into a cultural centre to locking arms with the "Elms", your "historic walkway" that you vigorously promoted years ago, is a road to nowhere!!!, everyone goes on about a museum!!!, define one, we could have a Cultural Centre we could all be proud of, incorporating a decent home for the Waka if only the 3 X Iwi could get on the same page, and a boutique stadium would bring revenue into the city, a dam site more than a stock car track half way to Rotorua does, so sorry Murray but you were the proponent of the "cultural walkway" and nailed signs on lamp posts showing tourists the way, only for them to be greeted by homeless drunks in the bushes to abuse them!!!!
Waste of money!
Posted on 22-04-2016 09:05 | By DAD
Put in another car-park building to encourage people to come to town and a grand hotel would make much more sense! Utilise what we have!
WISH LIST
Posted on 22-04-2016 09:18 | By Colleen Spiro
We have a library, we have a performance Centre in Baycourt, the Fan, we have a square (red Square), Masonic Park, The waterfront. We have the Art Gallery....oh we don't have a Museum to speak of....but we do have the Historic Village.
Murray and Jimmy
Posted on 22-04-2016 09:40 | By Councillorwatch
I agree with Jimmy that the Redoubt, rose bushes and Elms area is the true historic part of Tauranga. The Domain is not, but I still have reservations about the need for big rugby palace. Murray, just try and get over the fact that many people though do see the need for a rugby stadium, a bit like those enthusiasts who wanted Baypark. Millions have been put into Baypark. On the same what's good for the goose is good for the gander basis isn't it fair that rugby enthusiasts lobby for something just like you saloon car drivers?
'massive opportunity'
Posted on 22-04-2016 12:06 | By Crash test dummies
To finish off the CBD once and for all, dead, over-rover and all gone. That is the end result, the more Council staff try to think, plan and scheme to fix things he worse it all gets.
@ Councillorwatch
Posted on 22-04-2016 12:21 | By Crash test dummies
No need of another Rugby Palace in Tauranga, Council have already shown their utter failures with the exist mess at Baypark, the inherited damage there is some $25 million in ratepayer debt already and all Council promises have not materialized.
@ Colleen Spiro
Posted on 22-04-2016 12:23 | By Crash test dummies
Yes of course, it is all there already and yet the CBD foot traffic has dropped 22% in 5 years. The more TCC interferes the more people go elsewhere. TCC just don't get it, that they are the problem, no one and nothing else ...
@ Murray.Guy
Posted on 22-04-2016 12:55 | By Crash test dummies
You are in fairy land again, or perhaps "still". Nothing you have said is real or practical, in all respects all you have suggested to do at the Domain is crazy, the CBD is being "murdered" by a slow and deliberate ignorance at TCC, you were a part of that for many a year. just accept it.
@Jaffa.....
Posted on 22-04-2016 15:41 | By Jimmy Ehu
and all others that do not understand the power of the rugby brand....., done properly and by that I mean Council staying away from the important stuff a " boutique" entertainment venue at the domain could have a huge positive affect on the CBD and could be self funding, Councils are not in the entertainment business so would not have a clue!!!, but rugby is by far the biggest crowd puller over time than any other event, not talking one off specialty events here I mean 5 X provincial games a year, the money spent in the CBD would take 5 Jazz festivals to match, do not loose sight of the word done properly!!!!, on a larger scale look what Hamilton offers, and what the Auckland CBD misses out on!, you may not like it, but facts are facts
@ Jimmy Ehu
Posted on 22-04-2016 22:50 | By Crash test dummies
I presume when you say "done properly!!!" you are meaning the treatment of TCC ratepayers by TCC
@jaffa...
Posted on 23-04-2016 09:57 | By Jimmy Ehu
what I am saying is...... done properly with commercial nous!!!, it could actually return a profit, let's see if a few developers are keen to give it a go, let's see POT Stadium, Carruss Entertainment Centre, I as a ratepayer if the model stacks up would like to be a shareholder in it!!!, the Council by law have to invest in the cities future but continuously planting "lemon trees" they are investing in our demise, why not explore the idea with ratepayers only being part owners and reduce our risk, if Mr Adams thinks there is a dollar in it, let us match his or other commercial entities investment!!!.
@ Jimmy Ehu
Posted on 24-04-2016 13:17 | By Crash test dummies
Of course if there was "commercial nous!!!" involved then fine, but TCC's track record is clear and only generates but tow things, losses and bigger losses. The developers are hanging around to try and get their grubby little hands on the TCC ratepayers cheque book, that is all.
Massive Oppurtunity?
Posted on 27-04-2016 23:17 | By Crash test dummies
The only thing massive about this scam is the lengths that TCC staff will go to so as to get a new flash castle in the sky and never mind that ratepayers will have another $200 million odd in debt.
Jimmy
Posted on 02-05-2016 18:44 | By Kenworthlogger
A footy field needs to be located out of the city not in it. Imagine the traffic congestion. Would be worse than Aucklands problems. Just look what happens when baypark spills out after a sell out crowd leaves. Traffic for miles.....NO NO NO NO NO....
@ Jimmy Ehu
Posted on 03-05-2016 11:08 | By Crash test dummies
I agree with those ideas, however you already have your answer Adams and co will not front for a penny, they will not commit to fronting up every year either, the reason is obvious, what they expect ratepayers to pay for are all Lemons ...
@ Kenworthlogger
Posted on 03-05-2016 12:17 | By Crash test dummies
Baypark does not have sell out crowds and never has, not even once. The place is a disaster zone and was always going to be, then TCC got hold of it and WOW it just got a whole lot worse, bigger losses, more staff, less income, less people .... TCC have this recipe off pat of how to stuff it up in 10 seconds flat from the first point of "thinking".
Whoopee ................
Posted on 03-05-2016 13:35 | By ROCCO
Yes TCC Ratepayers will pay for the rotten lemons and the wombles who promote the B/S CBD spend ups come up smelling of roses until it all hits the fan and the public figures out they have been shafted.
Public space and gardens around the city
Posted on 03-05-2016 14:50 | By marshamaxw
I like the South Bank Parklands in Brisbane.Having something similar would be great on the waterfront. It is mistake for Tauranga to try and copy other cities in trying to pull big events. I think it strength is incorporating passive park space throughout the CBD beautiful avenues and walkway instead of quarantined off within parks. The use of garden design to connect function of the space around the of the buildings with their surroundings.Too often the urban environment is physical and visual oppressive on a human scale.It is ironic that Tauranga with the lack of investment towards public transport and the focus instead on automobile is now spending more money on yet more roading projects.It is amusing that those who advocate more spending favouring private car,either in the form of more carparks and/or roads, offer more it as their solution for fixing the same demise it caused.
@ marshamaxw
Posted on 04-05-2016 17:03 | By Crash test dummies
South bank in Brisbane is a whole different kettle of fish to here, you are looking at a river environment not sea/estuary. Also there is a major issue of the railway line as well. The Tauranga CBD concrete beach is that and is always going to be that. There is major limitation to its use and usefulness for anything as a result. Indications are that even a part time containerized coffee shop is struggling, certainly in winter it does. Brisbane has millions of people and a heart tot eh city, the South bank area is nice and most important, devoid of any officials ensconced and polluting the place.
Begging the question in title
Posted on 04-05-2016 20:59 | By marshamaxw
I wonder if was an attempt to frame the issue by begging the question? As a rule, inverted comments are not good practice in good penmanship.The conflation within the title of the quote is dubious . I would not support the meaning of civic centre to be reduced only to mean a public building or group of public buildings.Whereas another definition of civic centre can mean the whole CBD.I think we need to look at establishing and agree upon the same defintion as part of any conversation about options. Otherwise the council could go and see themselves as having the mandate to spend money on a building.I have no problem with them renting privately in the city. Use the entire CBD definition,go build public atriums, walkways. passive parks.Good pavement design is a solution, helping people feel comfortable interacting with huge numbers of strangers ,cities stuck on producing more cars, restrict
You can do a Southbank Parklands on the Waterfront
Posted on 04-05-2016 21:50 | By marshamaxw
Place a statuory body over the park. Divert the rail where comes across the harbour from Matapihi. Continuing line up the hill along Elizabeth up the hill along Elizabeth and onto the freeway, connecting further north near the service station. Put in a rail harbour crossing at the bridge. Take it through Taiaho Place to the Airport and then through it along the golf course, shaving off the bit for the line to join the existing rail.Parkland is not too different to Tauranga Harbour from the body of water in it's relationship.You can build the same standard of construction on the water.You make a beach like Oriental parade in Wellington.You are talking about as population which is as factor irrelevant for improving cbd,as we are only talking about improving cbd. Brisbane cbd is quite compact irrespect to rest of Brisbane,existing as urban sprawl, that where the numbers are coming
GET REAL and FOCUSED
Posted on 05-05-2016 09:32 | By ROCCO
@marhsamaxw.Well if you reroute the Railway the cost will be around $200m for what exactly .Railway adds an interest feature and really causes no problem to diners or strollers in Strand area.Stop trying to spend ratepayers money for the sake of it and just appreciate what you have .The area to develop is the virtually vacant Dive Crescent and that has been case for past 20years. !!! Simply realign the road and build a Fisherman's Wharf type facility .
@ marshamaxw
Posted on 05-05-2016 14:21 | By Crash test dummies
The two postings are a rambling nightmare for ratepayers in TCC. Your plan to redirect the rail through to the expressway for example means a tunnel, means the rail yard near the port is gone, means mega millions spend up for no meaningful gain at all. Perhaps before you start "thinking" again maybe you should flick the on switch first to thinking about the likely cost to ratepayers and how much is to be borrowed to pay for all these very questionable ideas?
Hear Hear ................
Posted on 05-05-2016 17:38 | By kellbell
I am with JAFFA & ROCCO on this one . Looks like the iceberg that will sink the TCC Titanic plunging it into the financial mire yet again.Pointy Heads and prudence don't mix.
@ kellbell
Posted on 07-05-2016 13:17 | By Crash test dummies
Pointyheads and prudence are a contradiction
Council operate out of rented space elsewhere
Posted on 07-05-2016 13:54 | By marshamaxw
If the council does not rebuilt the three building.And chooses the option of renting space and did something else on the site, would that be an alternative?
Nothing radically wrong just fix it
Posted on 08-05-2016 10:11 | By ROCCO
@marshamaxw.No if the Council rented that is dead money and I shudder to think how they would develop a vacant site.The cost would be horrendous. However the overriding factor is from all accounts the existing buildings are fine-just find the leaks(if any)seal them then work on the so called mould.It really is that easy.
@ marshamaxw
Posted on 08-05-2016 12:49 | By Crash test dummies
If the "something else" was sell it then great. But what the pointy heads will do is then create a plan that is bigger and better than ever before, they will create more costly, meaningless, crazy spend up schemes to spend even more. Think of it like letting kids into a lolly shop and they are not allowed to touch or eat anything, just not going to happen. Instead it will be an out of control mammoth feast, mess, disaster zone and they will all be hypo about it, that is what a sugar fix does.
@ ROCCO
Posted on 08-05-2016 12:52 | By Crash test dummies
True, all unofficial comments state that the 'real' report gives the all clear except for a bit of a vacuum required. All you can say is that there is good reason for senior TCC staff not dropping the reports out into the public arena in fact complete resistance to it all, no need to figure out why folks, this is an official stitch up of ratepayers for a monumental spend up of some $170 million and all new debt.
Forget the Museum
Posted on 12-05-2016 17:01 | By Mackka
Forget the museum !!
@ Mackka
Posted on 13-05-2016 11:31 | By Crash test dummies
No they wont and they haven't, there is an obsession about it for a few. There is no economic benefit or use for it, there is just a huge pile of junk stored on the pretext that something in there is of use. Tat is stretching it.
@ Mackka2
Posted on 15-05-2016 12:21 | By Crash test dummies
The obsession of just a few is so ingrained that there is no limit to what will be done or said to get it. It can only happen if everyone else pays for it all, those that desire it will only seek to have what they want as long as everyone else pays. That is the nature of the beast here, the cost to ratepayers will be $20-30 million and that will be borrowed. There will also be an annual cost of something like $7-10 million as well. None of those who favour this scam have put a penny into it and they have absolutely no intention of that changing.
be part of the decision-making?
Posted on 20-05-2016 15:32 | By Crash test dummies
What a lovely statement it is, only wish it was true or even remotely close to something true. It is not and never has been, this is a bulldozer scheme to shunt through the changes of what the official Muppets desire and any other opinion or view will be ignored and some.
CBD horrible and dead
Posted on 26-06-2016 15:19 | By marshamaxw
I don't umderstand why the CBD has been allowed to go backward to the point where it is so horrible and wretched, and at the same time the TCC has run up a massive debt. Can anyone explain why?
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