Feedback paints future picture of Tauranga's CBD

The CBD waterfront featuring a new pier and pontoon, with flexible grassed open space replacing carparks. Image/Tauranga City Council

The creation of distinct precincts in Tauranga's city centre, each with their own mini communities and character, has been promoted in public feedback to the council's big-picture vision for the CBD.

Ideas flowed from a series of recent workshops, inspired by themes developed by the council for the central city.

Stakeholder feedback on the future look and feel of the city centre, from the early avenues to Marsh St below The Elms, was outlined to a meeting of the city transformation committee this week.

Priorities that emerged from this year's planning process would be costed and considered for the council's 2018-28 Long Term Plan.

The council has broken down its vision into eight key areas: The green necklace, heart of the city, access to water, a connected city, avenues to headland, harbour to harbour, fine grain (small) spaces and a city centre for living.

Top priorities to emerge from the three workshops were the "fine grain" spaces such as laneways and small parks; the university campus area in Durham St; and the green necklace looping the city centre.

Councillors were told that the timeframe for the stadium being promoted for The Domain by a high-powered group of property experts was beyond the next five years.

Committee chairman Larry Baldock said they were on journey with the city centre. The next step was for the council's Technical Advisory Group to review the work.

A total of 144 suggestions and ideas emerged from the workshops.

An idea to combat the feeling that the heart of the city was "all over the place" was to create precincts or mini communities, each with its own feel.

Another person said the city centre needed to offer an experience that was distinct from Mount Maunganui. An anchor project should link into telling the downtown's harbourside story.

Other contributions to the "heart of the city" theme included a call for more open shared spaces with interactive art, more commercial and hospitality on the waterfront, an innovation hub near the tertiary precinct, no cars in Wharf St and greater use of timber and laminates.

Selection of ideas from workshops on central city vision
- Encourage interesting world-class architecture.
- Don't over-plant with tall trees that impact on water views.
- More events on The Domain.
- Quality finishes, not just concrete.
- Install tide direction strength indicator on waterfront.
- Water taxis from Mount Maunganui to CBD.
- Open Red Square to traffic.
- Ring road system in CDB and pedestrianise The Strand.
- Free loop bus around city centre.
- Less focus on cars and more on cycling and walking.
- Charging points for electric vehicles.
- Restore the beach from Memorial Park to the railway bridge.
- Encourage micro-events and classy pop-up businesses.
- Variety of living options, not just apartment blocks.
- More focus on Glasgow St area.
- Use seating that does not attract homeless.
- Establish lover's lane using conifers at end of 2nd Ave east.
- More landscaping along Takitimu Drive.
- Partnership projects with the private sector.