Part of a cycle lane will be turned into parking as a one-way system trialled in Tauranga’s CBD becomes permanent.

Deputy Mayor Jen Scoular argued exchanging a cycle lane for parking was a step backwards, but the move has been welcomed by the local mainstreet organisation.

The council has agreed to make the one-way traffic system permanent on parts of Hamilton, Wharf, Willow, and Spring Sts.

That was despite feedback that many people found the system, which began as a pilot in March 2024, confusing – especially infrequent visitors.

Grey St and The Strand would remain two-way, after strong opposition to including them in the one-way system.

The City Future Committee heard on Tuesday that making the one-way street system permanent had many benefits.

By removing the cycle lane on Willow Street, between Wharf St and Spring St, the council could provide eight to 11 angled car parks with additional motorcycle parking.

Willow St would become more pedestrian-focused to link the new civic centre with Masonic Park and the waterfront.

Intersections within the one-way system would be improved for safety.

The council would consider slower speeds and shared-space treatment for The Strand, and a future one-way decision may be made independently to support the use of the road corridor for events or additional space for parking.

These changes have an anticipated capital cost of $20,000 to support additional parking changes and minor amendments, which will be funded from existing budgets.

More parking

Scoular said people liked parking outside their destination, but the city was too big to take out bike lanes for more parking.

“We’ve got to get used to the fact that on-street parking is not what happens in larger cities.

Deputy Mayor Jen Scoular. Photo / David Hall

“We just have to get used to the fact that we park in a building and walk, and there are accessible parks for those who need them.”

She said she believed the council was taking a step backwards changing the cycle lane to parking.

Te Papa councillor Rod Taylor disagreed, saying it was grounded in a wider vision for the city centre.

Tauranga Mayor Mahe Drysdale said he supported the making of one-ways to enable parking.

“That’s kind of a trade-off that people will understand.”

The Strand

Matua-Ōtūmoetai ward councillor Glen Crowther questioned why making The Strand one-way to add more parking was dismissed once the survey results showed the public were not in favour.

Ōtūmoetai ward councillor Glen Crowther. Photo / David Hall

“Surely there’s a lot to be gained by having a one-way on The Strand as an option in terms of events and looking at the flow.”

Transport system operations manager Shawn Geard said the council would like to make The Strand one way, but this would require a lot of capital investment.

Tauriko ward councillor Martin Rozeboom said he understood the vision of what The Strand could be if it was one-way, but it was “just not appropriate” while there was still so much construction.

“Trying to get large articulated vehicles through the city centre, we need a few double-way roads and some larger turning circles to get them in and out.”

He said once the district courts were up and running and the Craigs Investment Partners building and Baycourt upgrades were completed, the council could look into pedestrian-focused streets.

“This is a good halfway stage of a city centre redevelopment.”

Downtown Tauranga manager Genevieve Whiton said the organisation supported the decision to remove the cycle lanes and replace them with parking.

“This is in line with listening to feedback from our members, that more car parks are needed in the city centre.

Downtown Tauranga manager Genevieve Whitson. Photo / John Borren

“This support brings more foot traffic and revenue into the city centre, which in turn supports our businesses, particularly hospitality, who really need help at the moment.”

Whiton said they also supported the decision to keep Grey St and The Strand two-way.

“There was a lot of public consultation on this topic, and the member feedback was very strong that they needed to stay two-way.”

Ayla Yeoman is a Local Democracy Reporting journalist based in Tauranga. She holds a Bachelor of Arts majoring in communications, politics and international relations from the University of Auckland, and has been a journalist since 2022.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.