Public feedback is wanted on plans to upgrade a section of Cameron Rd between the Tauranga Hospital and racecourse.

The project includes water service upgrades and four-laning between 17th Ave and Maleme St.

Tauranga City Council said it was gathering feedback through an online survey and community drop-in sessions throughout April and May where residents could look at revised concept plans.

These included separated on-road cycle lanes and shared walking and cycling paths where space was limited, the council said.

The proposed plans included using the outside lanes as high-occupancy vehicle lanes during peak times.

On-street parking would remain available during off peak periods.

The council said several options were being explored for Greerton Village, including two or four traffic lanes, along with either traffic signals or roundabouts at the Chadwick Rd and Cornwall St intersections.

The work also included upgrades to wastewater, stormwater and water supply networks.

Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale said the upgrades were essential to meet demand for new homes.

“These upgrades will support the anticipated growth of about 5800 homes on the Te Papa Peninsula, as well as 2400 new homes in Tauriko West.

“We’ve already invested in Cameron Rd stage 1 and the Tauriko Enabling Works so to realise the full benefits of these earlier investments, we now need to progress the stage 2 improvements, which will better connect people travelling from the west to the city centre and beyond.”

Community engagement on stage 2 of the Cameron Rd upgrade began in 2022, with a business case developed for consideration by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA), however, the project was not prioritised for government funding in the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP).

The council said the proposed $98.8 million transport upgrades were a “revised, value-for-money option” funded by an Infrastructure Acceleration Fund (IAF) grant from central government, the Infrastructure Funding and Financing Levy (of which ratepayers have contributed about $20m), and developer contributions.

Essential waters infrastructure upgrades costing $86.7m would be constructed at the same time as the road upgrade, reducing disruption and providing better value for the community, the council said.

These water upgrades were fully funded in the 2024-2034 Long-term Plan.

Drysdale said the council had learned from stage 1 of the Cameron Rd project, with the work “expected to be less disruptive, and better planned and communicated than the stage 1 project”.

“We acknowledge there will still be an impact on communities, including businesses,” Drysdale said.

“Once the upgrades are completed, we expect the changes will bring benefits to local businesses.

“More people will be travelling through and visiting the area, creating more opportunities and customers. We’ll work closely with businesses to understand their concerns and minimise impacts as much as possible.”