A new basketball court is officially opening on Dive Crescent in Tauranga.

Tauranga City Council spaces and places director Paul Dunphy says the court is a short-term initiative to return this part of the waterfront to community use.

'We are working with the Otamataha Trust to plan for the long-term future of the Dive Crescent area.

'This will include reopening the Cargo Shed once it has undergone seismic strengthening, and bringing more facilities and activities to the area for the community to enjoy.”

Plans for these improvements will be firmed up next year. In the meantime, the community can try their hand at basketball just a hop, skip and a jump from the waterfront.

'The team at Tauranga City Basketball has kindly donated some balls, which will stay on the court, so that everyone can have a go,” says Paul.

The court will be open between 7am and 10pm every day of the year, including public holidays.

The official opening of the court. Photo: Rosalie Liddle Crawford.

The new court sits on the site of the former Iron Design factory, which was torn down back in August.

The building at 14 Dive Crescent was issued an earthquake-prone building notice in 2011.

According to the Earthquake Prone Building Register, the building was given until June 2021 to complete seismic work with an earthquake rating of zero to less than 20 per cent. Iron Design have since relocated to Maleme Street.

Due to the significance of repairs necessary to get the building to code, as well as the subsequently high cost to do so, Council decided to demolish the building rather than complete repairs.