The basketball court currently in regular use on Dive Crescent is just the start of attempts to return the area to community use, according to Tauranga City Council.

Plans to bring the waterfront back to life run alongside those related to the civic precinct update, say Council representatives.

Residents in Tauranga got an early Christmas present when the new basketball court officially opened up on December 22.

Along with a donation of balls from Tauranga City Basketball, the new court offered people in Tauranga city a chance to shoot hoops on the waterfront.

Council have now confirmed the court is likely to remain in its current location for 'about five years” whilst they work on a long-term vision for the area, also known as Taumata Kahawai, alongside the Otamataha Trust, the property administrative arm for Ngāti Tapu and Ngai Tamarawaho.

'We have been pleased to see such an enthusiastic uptake of the basketball court at Taumata Kahawai and we've seen some exceptional ball skills on display,” says Tauranga City Council director of spaces and places Paul Dunphy.

'Cultural storytelling, ecological improvements, improvements to walking and cycling and access to water, enhancing visitor activities and attractions along Taumata Kahawai will likely be part of this long-term vision,” says Paul. 'As well as providing for ongoing commercial waterfront activities.”

Council are also working on more short-term options, including the reopening of the Cargo Shed, with seismic strengthening works beginning in the near future.

Tauranga City Council and the Otamataha Trust took shared ownership of a 3442m2 patch of land, including the Cargo Shed, from the Crown in November - 11 years after an agreement was initially found.

The Cargo Shed. Photo: Rosalie Liddle Crawford/SunLive.

Tauranga City Council's urban communities programme director Carl Lucca says Council is currently looking at various ways in which the waterfront can be better utilised in Tauranga.

'We are working with mana whenua and other key stakeholders to refresh the vision for the city centre and specifically of the waterfront over the short, medium and longer term,” says Carl.

'The aim is to help restore our city's heart by enhancing its connection to the harbour and transforming the waterfront into a premier recreational destination.”

This, according to Carl, ties in with plans that form part of the refreshed civic precinct masterplan - dubbed Te Manawataki o Te Papa, or The Heartbeat of Te Papa. Adopted by Council in December, the plan includes a new wharf at the end of Wharf Street as well as a wharewaka, or boat house.

'Like the Civic Precinct, there is a focus on providing activities that will attract visitors and locals to spend more time in our city centre,” says Carl.

'This may include more opportunities to access the water, for events, cultural attractions and storytelling, and providing places where friends and whānau can meet – in an environment that is distinctly Tauranga Moana.

'We're also looking at ways we can improve access into and around the city, for all ages and abilities, including improving walking, cycling and public transport.”

The public will get their chance to have their say on options for the Civic Precinct with consultation on the necessary Long-Term Plan Amendment process running from March 25 to April 26.