Tauranga City Council is providing an update on Elizabeth Street, Tunks Reserve, Masonic Park and the city car parking situation.

"Elizabeth Street reopened on Thursday evening, October 19, following essential road rebuilding works," says a council spokesperson. 

"Once the crane has been removed from the Thirty-Eight Elizabeth development, the last layers of asphalting will be completed through night works – specific dates are to be confirmed."

The laneway next to the Elizabeth Street parking building is also being upgraded and is expected to open Friday, October 27, weather dependent. Pedestrians will need to access the parking building from First Avenue while this upgrade is being completed.

Elizabeth Street East and Tunks Reserve Upgrade

"While we are upgrading the streetscape on Elizabeth Street East and improving the lookout from Tunks Reserve, the stairs linking Elizabeth Street to The Strand Extension are temporarily closed and vehicle access to Elizabeth Street East is limited," says a council spokesperson.

"Access for residents and businesses will be maintained at all times."

Find out more about the Elizabeth Street East and Tunks Reserve Upgrade here.

Tauranga waterfront

"Work is underway to protect and improve access to one of our city’s greatest assets - Tauranga Harbour city centre waterfront, and provide more community and recreational activities.

"The improvements will complement our new civic precinct Te Manawataki o Te Papa, and are expected to attract people near and far - making it a destination that people are proud of and want to spend time in – a place that is uniquely Tauranga."

To make way for better community spaces including a flexible event space that can be used all year round and plenty of spaces to play, the Northern Strand car park in the city centre will close from Monday, October 30. 

"Over 100 car parks are available just across the road at the newly upgraded Dive Crescent car park, and you can find all other city centre parking options on our website."

Find out more about plans for the waterfront and wider city centre

Masonic Park Upgrade

Work has begun to upgrade Masonic Park. Over the coming months this green space, bordered by The Strand and Willow Street in the city centre, is being shaped into place where people can stop by and dine and relax, or pass through from Te Awanui Tauranga Harbour to our future civic precinct, Te Manawataki o Te Papa.  

"Landscaping through Masonic Park will contribute to the vibrancy of our city centre and provide a vital connection through this area," says a council spokesperson. 

"The area will include large green spaces with shade, shelter, seating and covered walkways."

The new look for Masonic Park. Image: Supplied.

What the public can expect: 

• Access from The Strand to businesses in Masonic Park will be maintained at all times.  
• Masonic Park will be secured with fencing to keep people safe during construction, which means there will be no pedestrian access through the park for the duration of construction. People walking from The Strand to Willow Street can use nearby Wharf Street or Hamilton Street.  
• Traffic management may be in place on Willow Street at times.  
• To make way for this development, the Masonic Park off-street car park, which has typically included around ten public car parks and three private car parks, is permanently closed.  

Helping to offset this change is around a dozen temporary new car parks along Willow Street, which will be made available to the public once some road resurfacing work has been undertaken.

City centre parking

Last week the Tauranga Commissioners agreed to push out the extension of paid parking in the city centre until after summer, when more all day parking options will be available.

Check out the full details here and below is a map outlining the paid parking area in the city centre

New all-day city centre car park coming in early-2024

A new temporary off-street car park will open in early-2024 at 160-174 Devonport Road, creating more than 100 all day car parks and some covered bike parking.

Demolition of the existing buildings is starting in late October and is expected be complete by late November. Work will then commence immediately on the uncovered car park.

Seismic strengthening at Spring Street parking building

"The Spring Street parking building is almost back to full capacity as we near completion of strengthening works," says a council spokesperson.

"You can expect to see people working on the finishing touches of this work over the coming weeks, and a small number of car parks may be cordoned off while this takes place."

For more information visit the Tauranga City Council website.

Dive Crescent car park. Photo: Tauranga City Council.

Dive Crescent car park now open

With stage one of the Dive Crescent car park now open, works have now commenced on stage two of the upgrade, starting with stormwater replacement works.

Temporary speed limits and traffic management will be in place over the next few weeks.

The car park at the southern end of Dive Crescent has now temporarily closed while the upgrade of the parking and amenity in this section takes place. 

The newly upgraded northern car park remains open, with over 100 parking spaces available for community use.