Tauranga Racecourse is going to stay put - provided the land isn't going to be required for a new hospital.

Tauranga City Council has confirmed they will enter into an agreement with Tauranga Racing, and proceed with the "Community Plus" option for the racecourse.

The agreement states if, following the completion of the Te Whatu Ora business case, the Crown does not require part of the Tauranga Racecourse site for health purposes, then Tauranga City Council shall negotiate and on mutually agreed terms, enter into a new long-term lease with Tauranga Racing on the Tauranga Racecourse Reserve.

The new long term lease will provide for improvements to the Racecourse Reserve to enable "more community use of the site, including additional recreational opportunities and public access", according to the amended resolution.

It will also include the need to future-proof the site to support surrounding city infrastructure needs, including possible SH29A realignment, Cameron Road Stage 2 interface and three-waters upgrades.

Additionally, a remaining 15 years tenure has been retained for the racecourse, until such time a decision by Te Whatu Ora is made.

The lease however, is not to be treated as an agreed and contractual concession lease should the Crown require the land, and the agreement to a new contractual lease term is conditional on the land not being required for the new hospital.

Tauranga City Council will also enter into a new long-term concession/lease with the Tauranga Golf Club, which accounts for appropriate community access through the golf course and linkages into Kopurererua Valley, along with opportunities for increased community use of the buildings and greenspace.

The lease will also account for the potential hospital, SH29A realignment and stormwater solutions which could require golf hole relocations.

Te Whatu Ora's business case, which decides whether the land is required for a new hospital, is due in July 2024.

If the business case says the land is needed for a new hospital, Tauranga City Council will recommend "Option A: Health and Recreation" as the preferred option to support the wider needs of the city.

Option A will be recommended if the land is used for a new hospital. Image: Supplied.

The health and recreation option adds a mixture of public hospital, parkland, sports fields, golf, and connections to Kopurererua Valley, according to a Tauranga City Council spokesperson.

Tauranga City Council will continue to work with existing users on planning the future of the following activities:

• Tauranga Racing and New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing on short and long-term opportunities to continue Thoroughbred Racing in the Bay of Plenty.
• Tauranga Equestrian Sports Association on the future of equestrian in the Bay of Plenty including implementation of the Bay of Plenty Equestrian Strategy including a Western Bay of Plenty component of the Strategy involving the Tauranga Equestrian Sports Association.
• Community groups currently using of the Tauranga Racecourse Reserve to enable existing activities to continue to operate in Tauranga.
• Mana whenua on the future of the Tauranga Racecourse Reserve to incorporate the cultural history and narrative into site improvements.