How many more feasibility studies does it really need to create the vibrant city heart Tauranga residents have been promised for many years? The answer, quite simply, is none.
The reality is the hard work has mostly already been done. Council officials are understood to have already undertaken detailed business planning to create proposed new amenities, including a museum, a new performing arts centre, a future-proofed library and a refreshing of the downtown empty lot into a civic square.
However, the council has created the perception during its current consultation process that it is more interested in creating a lavish new civic administration building for itself than pushing ahead with the amenities.
That, in my view, is not the case. But it is a real concern that a number of Priority One board members came away from their recent council briefing on the issue feeling that the civic amenities were low on the priority list. Many also felt the council had not seriously taken on board the private sector's willingness to become involved in developing the new civic centre building on a lease-back basis, thus lifting some of the burden from the ratepayers.
In its submission, Priority One praised the council for its bold, innovative and aspirational approach. But it urged council to reconsider its priorities, with a view to bringing forward the proposed amenity projects under strict timelines, noting they would add substantially to Tauranga's economic development. The submission emphasised the council should consider options, such as the third party build and lease of the administration building, or community bond issues, that would support council's ability to progress an array of amenity-based projects.
