The potential for health services has come out as the top option for the future use of the Tauranga Racecourse Reserve according to council analysis.

Tauranga City Council has consulted with the community on the best use of the 85 hectares of crown land that is currently leased by Racing Tauranga and Tauranga Golf Club.

The land was permanently reserved as a recreation ground and racecourse in the late 1800s and the clubs have a lease until 2039.

The Greerton Maarawaewae study report will be considered by the commissioners at a council meeting on Monday. A decision of the reserve's future use is expected in June.

The study sought feedback on seven options, these included leaving the land as is, an enhanced use of the space by adding active recreational facilities and a community centre while retaining the golf course and race course.

The other five options removed the racecourse while retaining the golf course and added a community centre, two included housing and the final option included a health services site with active recreation.

From these options, four have been shortlisted through multi criteria analysis and none of them include the racecourse.

Council programme director of urban communities Carl Lucca said the criteria took into account the community engagement and the city's needs as it grows.

Consultants placed 20 per cent weight on future health needs, 25 to 30 per cent to housing, 25 to 30 per cent on green space and active recreation, 10 per cent to existing stakeholders and 15 to 20 per cent to cost.

More than 650 pieces of feedback were received from the community. They showed 'extremely strong' support for retaining/creating multipurpose greenspace and increased access to Kopurerua Valley that runs below the reserve.

Very strong support was shown for creating active recreation spaces, some support for relocating the racecourse and equestrian facilities if suitable land was found and not much support for relocating the golf club.

There was limited support for housing on the reserve and some support for a public health precinct.

Health services were a late entry into the study and despite having little detail to consult with the community on, the council's criteria has ranked it first.

Bay of Plenty District Health Board CEO Pete Chandler. Photo: John Borren/SunLive.

Bay of Plenty District Health Board CEO Pete Chandler said in October last year the DHB advised council they were in the early stages of a business case for the future needs of the Tauranga hospital campus.

After consultation with council, mana whenua and the government it was agreed the option for health services would be included in the conversation with community, he said.

'We're only just starting out on this process and the community conversation is focused on ideas for use of the reserve land in the next 10, 20, 30 and 50 years.

'However, if we know that there is support for the possibility of utilising some of the land, given its ideal location, this will significantly help us in putting together our business case options,” said Chandler.

If reserve land were made available for health services it would involve relocating specific hospital services - yet to be determined - as a new build, he said.

The reserve land is currently zoned as a passive open space and is further identified as a scheduled site to be protected as open space and for recreation activities.

Protecting this status is crucial for mana whenua, and representatives of Ngāi Tamarāwaho hapū lodged a claim via the Treaty of Waitangi Act in February.

Hapū representative Buddy Mikaere said if the status were to change to enable housing for example, that would trigger the claim.

Ngāi Tamarāwaho representative Buddy Mikaere. File image/SunLive.

The land was confiscated after the Battle of Gate Pa in 1865 and because the land was being used for public good the hapū didn't pursue it as part of their treaty settlement, said Mikaere.

He is also a Racing Tauranga trustee and wants to see the racecourse remain.

'The initial reasoning, for establishing it as a recreational reserve was because it was a racecourse.

'It's got a long heritage and a long history in Tauranga,” said Mikaere.

Carl McComb, chairman of both Racing Tauranga and Tauranga Racecourse Reserve Charitable Trust, said they want to continue racing on the reserve which has been their home for 150 years.

The club have been pragmatic about sharing the space with other users.

'We recognise that enhanced community use has got to be factored in,” said McComb

'The city is growing and we've got to look at the area in 10, 20 years' time and how do we all fit in?”

He said the Greerton Maarawaewae study is about providing certainty for users and the club is open to exploring all the options.

'Our preference is to continue racing on the reserve.”

'We still hope the commissioners make the right decision and do what's best recognising us as an historic user,” said McComb.

Further engagement with whenua and existing Tauranga Racecourse Reserve users has been recommended by council ahead of a decision from the commissioners in June.

Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air.