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
Category: Tauranga City Council
The Future Shape of Tauranga
We’re all aware there is an important general election on 14th October. What is sometimes overlooked is that the result may lock in, or reject, the increasing centralisation of decision-making that has happened over the past few years. This could impact our region for years to come. During this electoral term, central government agencies have… Continue reading The Future Shape of Tauranga
Tauranga’s Civic Centre and City Priorities
The Te Manawataki o Te Papa civic centre project is the centrepiece of the Commissioners’ plans for Tauranga. With under a year left in their 3 and 1/3 year tenure, they have so far struggled to get much happening around the city, so this project has taken on even more importance. TCC’s Transport System Plan… Continue reading Tauranga’s Civic Centre and City Priorities
The Proposed Tauranga Domain Stadium
Details of the proposed $220 million, 8000-seat “Boutique Stadium” at Tauranga Domain have been released. The key points are: * Default option is a $220 million stadium ($192m + 14.6% estimated cost escalation) * Permanent seating planned for 7000 people * Temporary seating for another 8000 (15,000 total capacity), including “seating modules” for 5000 that… Continue reading The Proposed Tauranga Domain Stadium
Preparing for Climate Change
President Johnson reportedly said that one of his political opponents couldn’t fart and chew gum at the same time. Looking at the lay of the land after Cyclone Gabrielle raises the question of how LBJ might describe this country’s challenge around climate change. It seems we need to walk, chew gum, ride a bicycle and… Continue reading Preparing for Climate Change
Democracy and Sustainability
Tauranga has moved from a state of democracy + no sustainability, to a state of no democracy + no sustainability. We are looking for something better than either of those options: democracy + sustainability. While many Tauranga residents are looking forward to the opportunity to elect councillors in 2024, the risk is that the return… Continue reading Democracy and Sustainability
Tauranga’s Climate Inaction Plan
We have long since reached the time for action of climate change. Call it a climate crisis, declare a climate emergency if you like, announce a net zero 2050 target, even set a 2035 target for each sector – the government has done all those things, but none of that really matters in the long… Continue reading Tauranga’s Climate Inaction Plan
Time to Talk about Tauranga’s Climate Plan
We don’t want to scare the horses, but did you know we have about 4 years left of our carbon budget if we are to play our part to meet NZ’s goal to limit global warming to less than 1.5 degrees? Let’s approach this through a decision tree: Do you observe the global climate is… Continue reading Time to Talk about Tauranga’s Climate Plan
Losing Our Democracy
“SmartGrowth” is a collaboration between Tauranga City Council, Western BOP District Council, BOP Regional Council, Tangata Whenua and central government that was established in 2004 to “manage” growth in this part of the country. On 17 August 2022, in a SmartGrowth Leadership Group meeting that wasn’t even livestreamed or uploaded onto YouTube, representatives of the… Continue reading Losing Our Democracy
Tauranga’s City Centre
Photo: BOP Times We’re a bit worried about who’s left at Disneyland, because Mickey Mouse and Goofy seem to have moved to Tauranga and taken over urban planning! If this paywalled article in the BOP Times is correct, then “Greerton Village could be Tauranga’s future city centre”. Which will be news to the people of… Continue reading Tauranga’s City Centre