The greenbelt bordering Takitimu Drive looks almost certain to be saved from housing developments after a big neighbourhood protest helped persuade the Tauranga City Council to drop its sale plans.
Mayor Stuart Crosby and councillors contacted by the Bay of Plenty Times yesterday backed a staff recommendation to retain the reserve-like stretch of land between 4th Ave and 8th Ave.
The recommendation, to be put to next Monday's council meeting, followed an outpouring of opposition from residents, including a petition signed by nearly 1100 people.
Mr Crosby said the properties had several layers of red tape and he was confident most councillors would vote to stop the sale of the eight parcels of land.
The council agreed in July to revisit the $28million surplus land sale plan adopted in 2012, which included the 1ha of land along Takitimu Drive valued at about $2million.