Cameron Road and Seventh Ave intersection which is proposed to be closed off, creating potentially more car parks. Photo / George Novak
Cameron Road and Seventh Ave intersection which is proposed to be closed off, creating potentially more car parks. Photo / George Novak
Tauranga City Council is looking to mitigate the loss of car parks from its overhaul of Cameron Rd by using space from newly created cul-de-sacs.
The potential creation of car parks comes in response to feedback given to the council as part of its Futureproofing Cameron Road project.
And Greerton'scontroversial traffic safety upgrade has become a key motivation behind the approach to the Cameron Rd consultation.
Transport System Plan director Brendan Bisley said lessons were learned after the fallout of the council's attempt to improve traffic safety in Greerton.
"Greerton will probably never happen again," Bisley said.
"The issue with Greerton is that we weren't very clear in explaining what the outcome was going to be. In this case, we are trying to make it really clear as to what the community can expect," he said.
Tauranga City Council's Brendan Bisley says there are benefits to counter the losses in the Cameron Rd futureproofing project. Photo / George Novak
The 2018 Greerton traffic safety upgrade whittled two lanes to one, each way, placed a controlled crossing next to the Chadwick Rd roundabout and restricted Cameron Rd access from Cornwall Rd.
Some businesses suffered an 80 per cent drop in trade and congestion stretched from Barkes Corner to Munro St, prompting a petition from retailers who said council consultation was inadequate.
Proposed plans for this year's Cameron Rd project involve a peak-time bus lane in both directions, a dedicated two-way cycleway, traffic lights at 9th and 6th Aves and changes to side street access.
"We have a real choice to include input as to what it looks like," Bisley said.
Development design of the plans for stage one of the project - Harington St to 17th Ave - were about 80 per cent complete, with the final 20 per cent expected to provide some of the toughest challenges.
Bisley, who began his role with the council last year, said there would not be a great deal of change for motorists.
"This is where it is not like Greerton."
Cameron Rd traffic backs up between Chadwick Rd and Barkes Corner after major changes to the roading layout in Greerton. Photo /File
Some intersections such as 15th Ave would have minimal changes, but other "exciting" plans include shutting off of side streets such as 7th Ave which, in turn, could create more car parks to counter those lost to the proposed Cameron Rd bus lane, Bisley said.
"For the majority of people there would be a car park a relatively short distance away."
The loss of car parks has been highlighted in feedback as the biggest community concern so far.
By comparison, there was a lot of excitement for proposed urban spaces aimed at offering outdoor community space.
"For all of those losses there are benefits," Bisley said.
Ultimately, the changes will involve a 10-year transition period before the bus lanes become permanent.
When asked about the impact on local businesses, Bisley said the situation presented opportunities for businesses to adapt during those 10 years.
"The question is: 'Can Tauranga keep doing what it's doing?' The reality is that it can't.
"If you look at Cameron Rd, it's looking a bit tired. This is a good chance for us to go through and renew it and all of the tired infrastructure and give it a general lift."
An artist's impression of what the future of Cameron Rd will likely look like according to plans currently out for consultation. Image / Supplied
But not everyone is convinced.
One of Mitre 10 Mega Tauranga's directors Greg Bold said he had "serious concerns" at the proposed plans, which he believed could create rather than prevent "another Greerton".
"Greerton was a total fiasco, a complete disaster."
Mitre 10 Mega Tauranga is in Gate Pa, in what would be Stage 2 of the project. However, Bold said Cameron Rd needed to be considered in its entirety.
"Doing it piecemeal is high-risk."
Bold said public transport was a great idea but he did not believe such investment in it would work in Tauranga. Local businesses would lose out if people couldn't park outside, he said.
"That's what really worries me. They are talking about removing the car parks.
"Businesses will struggle. People are going to lose their jobs."
Bold said he wanted the council to be "a little bit more realistic around how they are affecting the people who actually pay the rates".
"It looks lovely and sounds marvellous but they are catering to such a small percentage of the population and what they want the population to be," Bold said, referring to cyclists and public transport users.
Future plans for Cameron Road. Image / Supplied
Bold said he did not think the number of people changing their mode of transport would keep up with the rate the city was growing by.
Acting director of transport Russ Troupe said Cameron Rd in its current state was not sustainable.
"To support the growth that the city is undergoing, we need to provide valuable alternatives to get people out of their cars," he said.
"The measure of success will be if you can send your kids to school on a bike and know they are safe and separated all the way. And ultimately, that's what we're doing."
In response to Bold's concerns, Bisley said that if there was money to futureproof Cameron Rd in its entirety "we would do it".
Bisley said the council has worked with businesses along the stage one of the project since 2018 and the removal of parking was only during peak hours. Final numbers of car parks lost or gained won't be known until the final design.
Regarding concern the council was catering for a minority group, Bisley said the project was "more than just a cycleway and bus lane".
"It aims to revitalise a key part of the city and turn Cameron Rd into a thriving destination, not just a commuting corridor."
