September 2024 Sustainable Bay of Plenty Trust (SBOP) was established to ensure that decisions affecting all of us were being made through the lens of sustainability, especially at a systemic level. We didn’t just want a seat at the table, we wanted a voice. Our kaupapa has been about accountability, awareness and action. Throughout the… Continue reading The Future of Sustainable BOP Trust
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The Commissioners’ Legacy
by Glen Crowther Photo: The redacted Tauranga city celebration event leaflet released by TCC in response to an Official Information request (left) & leaflet supplied to BOP Times by an attendee (right). Everyone will have their own reflections on the legacy left behind by Tauranga’s Commissioners. Here are some of mine… ‘Don’t let the truth… Continue reading The Commissioners’ Legacy
Tauranga’s CBD Bus Hub – ‘Dead-end Street’ or a Positive Way Forward?
by Glen Crowther This is the latest instalment in our coverage of this issue, which has been ongoing for the past five years or more. I have been a public transport ‘stakeholder’ for the past decade, I am an advisor to the BOP Regional Transport Committee, and I use buses most days. In my role… Continue reading Tauranga’s CBD Bus Hub – ‘Dead-end Street’ or a Positive Way Forward?
Ongoing Saga of Tauranga’s CBD Bus Interchange
Photo from Sunlive: Durham St ‘interchange’ Today’s media report describes how more ‘chickens’ have come home to roost for Tauranga City Council (TCC) – this time regarding Tauranga’s planned central city bus ‘interchange’, which the city’s Commissioners had committed to complete by December 2023. The Council yet again seems to be putting property developers and… Continue reading Ongoing Saga of Tauranga’s CBD Bus Interchange
Tauranga Community Survey
Sustainable Bay of Plenty Trust has partnered with Papamoa Residents & Ratepayers Association (PRRA), Mount Maunganui Ratepayers, Residents & Retailers (MRRR), and a number of other community groups to undertake a survey on some key Tauranga sustainability issues. This came about after Tauranga City Council’s 2024 Long Term Plan (LTP) consultation in November-December 2023 left… Continue reading Tauranga Community Survey
Tauranga City Council’s 2024 Long Term Plan
PART TWO In the first part of this article, we looked at why Tauranga City Council needs to slow down and re-set its Draft 2024 Long Term Plan (LTP), to account for the new government’s policies on three waters and transport. We now look at the current Draft Plan and assess the basic financials. What… Continue reading Tauranga City Council’s 2024 Long Term Plan
Tauranga City Council’s 2024 Long Term Plan
PART ONE As the public’s attention switches from the coalition negotiations to Christmas shopping, let’s not forget that Tauranga City Council is consulting its vitally important 2024-34 Draft Long Term Plan (LTP) until 15 December. Sustainable BOP Trust has called on the council to delay its LTP due to the change of government. The Coalition… Continue reading Tauranga City Council’s 2024 Long Term Plan
A Tale of Two Cities: Tauranga’s Own Debt Crisis
You may have come across the recent story about Christchurch City Council having “serious financial issues”. As a sustainability organisation, that made us wonder how sustainable are Tauranga City Council’s finances? Tauranga City had about 158,300 residents in June 2022, whereas Christchurch City was home to 389,300 people (2.5 times Tauranga’s population). Tauranga City Council… Continue reading A Tale of Two Cities: Tauranga’s Own Debt Crisis
Why IFF is a bad choice for Tauranga
Tauranga City Council is asking Tauranga residents if they prefer the Civic Precinct to be financed by an ‘IFF’ levy (option 1) or rates-funded debt (option 2). Either way, the debt is repaid by ratepayers. However this is a much bigger topic than it may first appear, so we urge you to read this short… Continue reading Why IFF is a bad choice for Tauranga
Growth Does Not Pay For Growth
Photo: NZME BOP Times Tauranga City Council told us all for years that “growth pays for growth”. It eventually admitted that wasn’t true, and today’s paywalled BOP Times article shows how growth can go ‘off the rails’ and leave ratepayers with $735 million debt. Key points: – Te Tumu development (between Papamoa East and Maketu)… Continue reading Growth Does Not Pay For Growth