Prime land targeted for new development

Mount Maunganui's library could be affected if the council decides to redevelop the site. Photo / John Borren

Mount Maunganui's public library and Plunket Preschool could be affected by a proposal to redevelop a prime $11.7 million site owned by Tauranga City Council.

The council has agreed to investigate a range of options for its 1.6 hectare Maunganui Rd land which also features Zespri's head office and an adjoining park used by Little Big Markets.

A public-excluded meeting of the council this week decided to go out for public consultation early next year on options for the entire site.

Mayor Stuart Crosby said options included the status quo, retail, an office park, visitor accommodation, high density residential and a retirement village.

A paper outlining the options will be prepared for public consultation. The council was planning a targeted mail drop, flyers, online information and public open days.

The council's decision was greeted with concern by Tauranga's Friends of the Libraries and Plunket.

Friends president John Gauld said the group would be distressed if the library was lost to development. "It is well patronised and is in a very central part of the Mount."

The Bay of Plenty Times understands that the council was questioning whether the Mount library was now in the right place, given the population growth out to Bayfair. Papamoa's library had shown that libraries worked best when they were co-located beside major shopping centres.

Mount Plunket Preschool manager Sandie Jacobs said it would be a shame if they were forced out by redevelopment. "I don't know where we would go. There is not really anywhere in the Mount we could afford," she said.

Mrs Jacobs said the preschool's history at the Mount spoke for itself. It had been a community hub for families since it opened in 1988.

Plunket's Bay of Plenty community services leader Kath Lawrence said the news came as a great surprise. "We have heard nothing from the council."

She said it would be sad to lose the community child care centre and library and she intended to put Plunket's views quite forcibly to the council.

"I don't know where the council's long-term vision is."

Mr Crosby said Monday's meeting did not debate any of the options, deciding instead to go out to the community with a range of options and then consider the feedback.

His personal view was that whatever happened, a portion of the parkland should be retained. Proceeds from the sale of land would be used in the first instance to repay debt in the strategic property portfolio.

Zespri communications advisor Rachel Lynch said Zespri was looking at a range of options for the long-term siting of its head office, including staying put. The process had barely started.