Editorial: Campus perfect spot for facelift

Garry Poole CEO of the Tauranga City Council. Photo / File

The site of the Tauranga City Council campus on the corner of Willow St and Wharf St is the perfect spot for some sort of community space or cultural hub.

Directly across from the Art Gallery, a short walk from Baycourt and only a block back from the gorgeous Tauranga waterfront, it is an area that could be well utilised.

Tauranga City Council has agreed to consider all options for the future of the site since the current civic centre is plagued by toxic black mould. Good on it for committing to look beyond the obvious to see what could be achieved.

Some have suggested it should be the site of the long-awaited and highly controversial museum.

I don't see why not. It would be far easier than building on the waterfront and much less contentious.

Could we make it a sort of Aotea Square? A central city meeting point that can be transformed for events or simply enjoyed as a spot to gather or relax.

Look at the success of the Hairy Maclary statues on the waterfront. There is always a crowd around the sculptures. It'd be the ideal spot for more public art.

The possibilities are endless.

The whole civic campus would not have to go. Leave the library, that would fit well with a cultural centre or community hub.

The least affected areas of the council building could also stay and the new development could be worked around it.

Of course, all of that costs money.

The current councillors have been focusing on keeping debt levels down and that is important.

The cost has to be justifiable - and another site for the civic campus would have to be found to house the council staff currently displaced thanks to the toxic black mould.

I am glad all options are being considered though.

It may turn out to be only slightly more expensive than fixing the mouldy offices and it could be a worthwhile investment, which would serve the city well as it grows in the years to come.

It's a prime central city site, almost too good to be used only as offices, and now is the perfect time to consider its future.