Sulphur Point at Tauranga Habour could be the setting for a new marine facility in Tauranga. Photo/file
There's just one week left for people to have their say on a proposed marine facility for Tauranga.
Tauranga City Council would like to hear feedback on its proposal to long-term lease an area of open space land at northern Sulphur Point. The long-term lease would enable the University of
Waikato to establish a purpose-built Marine Research and Educational Facility.
Consultation is open until 5pm on Friday, March 9.
The marine facility could mean for Tauranga:
•The proposed research centre would be distinctive to New Zealand and create the capacity to attract and host national and international collaborations and research programmes.
•It would expand the capability to protect Tauranga's and New Zealand's marine environment by providing opportunities and solutions to key issues for the Bay of Plenty coastal and marine environments.
•By providing tertiary education opportunities unique to New Zealand, the centre would help keep more young people in the area by enabling them to study courses unique to New Zealand.
•The facility would put Tauranga on the map as a home of world-class research specialised in marine research, biotech and engineering, and tertiary education.
The council's proposal to long-term lease means:
