There are four further deaths linked to Covid-19 and Director General Health Ashley Bloomfield says it is a "sobering reminder" of what's at stake in the fight against the pandemic.
Tauranga City Council is asking for millions of dollars from the Government to help aid key infrastructure projects considered vital to the city's future.
In an emergency council meeting held this morning, and not advertised on the council website, elected members voted to apply for the Government's Crown Infrastructure Partners Economic Stimulus Process.
Councillor Heidi Hughes was the only elected member opposing the decision.
Tauranga City Council in chambers. Photo / File
The application comes just days after the council confirmed major infrastruture projects had been left in limbo but the Covid-19 pandemic. Modelling carried out by the council indicated ongoing coronavirus effects was likely to have a "severe impact" on the city's income streams and its ability to complete vital infrastructure investment projects.
The council is now asking for funding for a suite of projects including priority one plans such as The Waiari Water Supply Scheme ($117 million); Te Tumu Urban Growth Area and Wairakei Town Centre Infrastructure ($117.34m) and the Western Corridor, which includes the Tauriko Business Estate and Urban Growth Area ($78.5m)
Hughes told the Bay of Plenty Times she opposed the decision due to her belief the council was running a "massive risk" by supporting developments of growth in the fringes of the city.
"There is a strong focus on growth in both Te Tumu and Tauriko and that, in my way of thinking, has the potential to keep investing further out into our fringe.
"It can put us into more traffic chaos. We've done this for 20 years, the whole development model into our city fringe and now we are paying the serious price of congestion."
Hughes believed there were developments that should have been prioritised that would support and enrich existing communities.
But as a result of the decision, she said communities such as Merivale, Greerton and Welcome Bay would miss out - again.
"The wide range of these projects create more jobs. It taps into a wider range of businesses and jobs, which in the next three to five years we are going to absolutely need.
"Greenfield [such as te Tumu and Tauriko] development projects invite a certain amount of people but not across the board, not as far as it would if we put emphasis on the projects that support community development."
Mount Maunganui and Pāpāmoa ward councillor Steve Morris said he appreciated Hughes' comments but voted for the decision.
"Clearly getting key transport projects well over the line is going to be a big benefit for existing residents."
He believed some of the projects were required now, let alone for those who were coming to live in the Bay such as the Waiari Water Supply Scheme.
"I can appreciate Heidi's comments, and once we get through this current crisis I think we need to have an honest conversation with the community about whether growth has been as beneficial as what it was promised to be, and who is benefitting from it."
Tauranga businesses including Port of Tauranga, Craigs Investment Partners, Winston Wallboards, Trustpower, Balance, and Zespri signed a letter of "unequivocal support" for the submission.
In the letter, they placed particular emphasis on the projects that delivered residential, commercial and industrial land and which would deliver a more multi-modal transport system and intensified urban design.
"In summary, our local government leaders are focused on the eastern and western corridors together with intensification of existing areas, that will unlock thousands of houses and jobs and enable the Western Bay of Plenty to flourish over the next several decades," the letter read.
"That will require investment in three waters infrastructure, transport networks and community facilities, as well as the state highway and rail routes to the port, which will be critical to New Zealand's recovery."
Tauranga City mayor Tenby Powell, Western Bay of Plenty District mayor Garry Webber and Bay of Plenty Regional Council chairman Doug Leeder were also expected to support the submission, having met in a Bay of Plenty Mayoral Forum this afternoon.
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In its application, the council states that Tauranga forms part of the Upper North Island golden triangle and there was critical economic infrastructure needed to support immediate and long-term economic growth and wellbeing.
Applications will be assessed on construction readiness; Public or regional benefit; Size and material employment benefits; and overall risks and benefits of the project.
Some significant projects were considered but not included in the application due to the extent of readiness or priority relative to other projects. These included the Mount Visitor Centre and I-Port, central library, administration building.
