The Mount Action Centre will become home to a new trust for youth at risk after the Tauranga City Council vacates the building next year.

Concern at rising crime rates has prompted businessman Doug Owens to set up a trust for youth at risk.

Its owner, businessman and new Bay of Plenty regional councillor Doug Owens, says he intends to establish a youth at risk trust to coordinate and develop a youth aid programme with local and government agencies and the police.
'It is envisaged this programme will become a small component part of the new Action Centre, and Triton Pacific Ltd or a nominee will provide financial assistance to get things rolling.”
His deep concern for youth at risk in the region prompted the decision to establish the programme, says Doug.
'We envisage the Action Centre will continue much as it is under commercial management by others and not in competition with the new council facility at Te Maunga.
'I am floating the idea to see where it might be taken. It is a baseline project for the community and I think it is very important.
'Someone must take a lead in this and once again define what a community is - these are our children and the priority is that we look after them.”
There is a real need for more to be done for youth at risk, highlighted by the fact that police link the rise in crime in the region to an increase in drugs and alcohol-fuelled disorder, says Doug.
'I have noted that the crime rate in the Western Bay of Plenty has increased by more than nine per cent – a much bigger increase than any other region in the country.
'I think that politically, all councillors should focus on doing something about this.”
Doug is the son of the late Sir Bob Owens, who developed his pioneering stevedoring company at the Port of Tauranga into a nationwide business empire. Owens Group Ltd was taken over by Mainfreight in 2003.
Doug's own family interests have since purchased all of the Bob Owens family land holdings at the Mount including Sir Bob's original Mt Storage business, now known as Triton Pacific Ltd.
'It is committed to port service-related business and we are based in Tauranga. In short, the Owens legacy has been retained, and we intend to build on this for the future,” says Doug.
Tauranga City Council is constructing a new $41 million Tauranga Indoor Sports and Exhibition Centre at Te Maunga, scheduled to open in August next year.