The council is replacing and upsizing the old sewer pipes before the main works above ground on Cameron Rd start later this year. Photo / George Novak
The council is replacing and upsizing the old sewer pipes before the main works above ground on Cameron Rd start later this year. Photo / George Novak
Major construction works on Cameron Rd begin this week, marking the initial preparation for the futureproofing project starting in September.
The work involves an upgrade to the city's wastewater services as Tauranga City Council replaces the sewer pipes between Harington St and Elizabeth St.
A traffic management plan will bein place for commuters, but the work, combined with safety improvements, has prompted the council to advise allowing extra time for traffic or using an alternative route if possible.
Several businesses on Cameron Rd spoke to the Bay of Plenty Times about the futureproofing project.
Owner of Jamele Skincare Centre Shelley Foster said it was "an absolutely ludicrous idea".
"[Cameron Rd] is a very long, big road. When you go from one business, you drive from one to the next to the next. It's too far spread out to actually be a community place where you would sit."
Foster said her business has been on Cameron Rd for 35 years, and there was "seldom congestion".
"We see these buses go through that are going to have their special bus lane, with one or two people on it in prime time.
Alternative routes for Cameron Rd will be listed on the Tauranga City Council website. Photo / George Novak
Howard Jones, owner of Naismith and Jones, said the project would have a "huge" impact on parking, and he might have to look at moving shop as a solution.
"I just think the whole thing is a total waste of money."
Owner of Unichem Faulkners Pharmacy Stuart MacDonald said he did not think the project would have that much of an impact on them aside from the building works.
Because of their off-street parking, it would not affect their business the same way it might for those between 11th and 13th Ave, he said.
"[There are] definitely positives in improvements in crossings being provided. It will probably have a negative impact on traffic flow with all the traffic lights."
The Avenues resident Dean Timmings said a bike lane was a good idea for safety reasons but he did not agree with having a bigger footpath or bus lane.
"[The buses] don't really hold [anything] up," the 23-year-old said.
"I don't think they even need a big footpath – I don't see enough people walking there."
Timmings said the project was "probably a waste of money" and there were a lot of things tax dollars could be spent on, such as the homeless and housing crisis, better public facilities and more disabled parking for people.
Fellow Avenues resident Frank Jarmai said he was concerned about parking space and extra traffic.
"What upsets me most is all the traffic that's going to go through here on Edgecumbe Rd," he said.
"Once they shut all that off, what are they going to do with all the cars? They've got to park somewhere… Are they going to rip your lawn up here and start parking outside your place?"
The Avenues resident Dean Timmings. Photo / Megan Wilson
But Avenues resident Kathryn Bluett-Atvars said she was "actually quite pleased" there might be some pedestrian crossings on Cameron Rd.
The 71-year-old said: "It will stop the traffic flow, but it might be safer for someone my age actually crossing the road. I would welcome that."
The council's director of transport Brendan Bisley said the council wanted Cameron Rd to be a destination, not just a commuting corridor.
"We fully support local business and the valuable role they play in our communities, which is why we have been engaging with them on this since 2018," he said.
"However, we also need to take into consideration a range of stakeholders' views, including private residents, schools and educational institutes, emergency services, bus and mobility device users, bike riders (as well as businesses)."
Through consultation on the Te Papa Spatial Plan, the community had said it wanted open spaces, tree-lined streets, pedestrian-friendly, walkable neighbourhoods, and more housing and transport choice, he said.
"One of the first steps towards creating this future will be along Cameron Rd."
The council was aware of concerns regarding the removal of some parking, and had been working with business owners to find the best outcome for everyone, Bisley said.
From Elizabeth St, southbound bus lanes would only operate during peak hours. Outside those hours, they would be available for parking.
During peak hours, there would be business car parks off-street and on side streets.
Parking on Cameron Rd from Elizabeth St to Harington St would be reduced, and some parallel parking provided, Bisley said.
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Principal of Tauranga Boys' College Robert Mangan said Tauranga had to "come to grips" with its transport issues.
"There's going to be some short-term pain to get some long-term gain.
"Construction is just a necessary cost of progress," he said.
"The way that traffic is at the moment – we're just going to have to accept for a period of time we're going to be disrupted with the end goal to improve our corridors."
Mangan acknowledged there would be "pretty significant disruption and inconvenience" to students and the public when construction started.
"It's not ideal because the bell goes at the end of the day. Boys ... spill out onto the streets surrounding the college."
Chairman of the Grace Road Avenues and Neighbourhood Residents Association Phil Green agreed the Cameron Rd project was "definitely a necessity".
"As far as the city goes, we need to be futureproofing. We're really behind the eight ball as far as keeping up with our infrastructure needs."
This was important because of upcoming intensification projects, Green said.
"Unless we have the infrastructure, we can't actually do any of the development work along Cameron Rd."
Green said he was "most definitely" concerned for business owners and retailers who would be affected by it.
"But it's also how council approach the work programme – if it's being done in sections that can be done efficiently without having large sections of Cameron Rd disrupted."
"As long as all the parties involved are having regular meetings about what's going on, I think it will go a lot smoother than what [we're] probably all concerned about," he said.
Local businesses: What are your thoughts on the Futureproofing Cameron Rd project?
Service manager at Oil Changers - Andre Bouterey
Andre Bouterey. Photo / Megan Wilson
"Any improvement on the infrastructure in Tauranga has got to be a good thing."
Owner of Make It Sew - Graeme Philp
Graeme Philp. Photo / Megan Wilson
"I'm leaving Cameron Rd. When they announced it 18 months ago, I decided I would look at something."
Owner of Industrial Footwear and Safety - Gaylene Dovaston
Gaylene Dovaston. Photo / Megan Wilson
"I think it's a good project - I do feel like the designers have listened. I've been going on for months about getting extra parks and I do feel like they've taken [this] on board. But we are concerned about the long-term implications on our business."
Owner of Naismith and Jones - Howard Jones
Howard Jones. Photo / Megan Wilson
"Long-term, it's going to destroy the business."
Owner of Jamele Skincare Centre - Shelley Foster
Shelley Foster. Photo / Megan Wilson
"I'm not very happy about it at all… It's going to compromise our parking."
