The Tauranga City Council and Element IMF are proposing major changes to the Tauriko Business Estate, as part of TCC's city plan review. Few people appear to know about these changes, in part because some of it affects residents of the Western Bay of Plenty.
These changes are contrary to the original intent of the business estate, which was to create a pleasant green outlook where people could ‘live, work, and play'.
Now, changes are being proposed to reduce the greenery and increase the industry.
For example, Boffa Miskell and TCC arborists debated at length suitable tree species, their size and spacing.
Now, Boffa Miskell says these same trees are inappropriate and need to be removed.
It is also proposed to reduce the grass verges to match city industrial sites.
For example, to create more industrial land and more impervious ground cover, which equals increased flooding potential.
Down the Belk Rd-end, TCC and Element IMF propose a reduction in greenbelt and an increase in industry with infill of four-five metres; and a maximum building height of 16 metres.
This is all within close proximity to the Wairoa River, which will no doubt enjoy the extra silt when it floods, as it tends to do regularly. So if you drive along Belk Rd or State Highway 29 to get to work, enjoy the view while you can. TCC proposes to destroy it.
Y James, Tauriko.

TCC responds:
The Tauriko Business Estate is an industrial zone.
An existing greenbelt zone is set aside for a stormwater pond, but the pond is no longer needed in the size originally intended. Proposed Plan Change 3 would reduce this 13 hectare zone by 4.3 ha. It will allow industrial development 100 metres closer to Belk Rd area.
However, landscaping is still required to buffer future development. Proposed tree changes only affect the internal road corridor trees, where some standards have proven unsuitable.
The plan change was publicly notified and affected parties from both the Western Bay of Plenty and Tauranga City were given opportunity to make submissions.