Recently reported is a proposal to paint the external walls of some CBD public buildings and if possible maybe some privately owned buildings well, the plan means that some buildings will be painted with images up to 15m high! The cost will be considerable for this including OSH compliance and most likely costly scaffolding, perhaps tens of thousands for each.
It's said that it these buildings around the CBD is a 'joint partnership” between Tauranga Chamber of Commerce, PriorityOne, Tourism BOP, Mainstreet, Creative Tauranga, the BOP Property Council, BOP Tertiary Partnership and TCC. Looking at this group all are funded one way or another by TCC(rates) anyway so looking past all the 'smoke and Mirrors” about where the money is really coming from to pay for this extravagance is obvious isn't it, TCC ratepayers.
Meanwhile a current Sunlive website Poll asks viewers ”What do you think should be a priority for Council funds?” Not spending and reducing TCC debt @48%, Roading and Infrastructure @27% and of the six options City Art is sixth (the lowest) @ barely 1%, so no guessing which one Councillors voted for.
Is this the behaviour of prudent and responsible leadership and governance for this city? Very likely not and shows again why changes in October-2013 are needed desperately.

I Stevenson, Tauranga.