The Centaur Posted December 16, 2021 Share Posted December 16, 2021 Herald Article Kiri Gillespie By Kiri Gillespie Multimedia journalist A new school, an indoor equestrian centre, a destination park complete with a pump track and - potentially - a hospital are among options touted for the redevelopment of prime reserve land originally considered for housing. Tauranga City Council has today revealed seven options for future use of the 85 hectares of Crown-owned reserve land in Greerton currently shared by the Tauranga racecourse and neighbouring golf course. The options are the result of feedback from the community as part of the Greerton Maarawaewae Study, which aims to futureproof the reserve land for up to the next 50 years. Initially, the land was being considered for housing development. However, only two of the seven options as part of the $230,000 study include housing. Up to 1500 homes could be included under one of the options and the rest of the land would be used for a community centre, school, and park area. Council commission chairwoman Anne Tolley said there was a lot of opposition to the land being used for housing. "Everyone wants more housing but not necessarily in their green space," she said. Both the Urban Form and Transport Initiative and the Te Papa Spatial Plan identified the racecourse area as a potential key to providing more homes. Asked what concerns Tolley had at the community reluctance for housing despite the city's dire housing crisis she said: "It's very clear this is a very special piece of land ... with history. We have to respect all of that. We have to take note of what the community says." The land was originally confiscated from Ngāi Tamarawaho and the council was working in partnership with mana whenua, and Kāinga Ora as a Crown representative, on the project. The Crown owns the land and the council is its administering body. It is leased by Racing Tauranga and the Tauranga Golf Club on a fixed term until 2039 with no automatic right of renewal. The clubs are members of the Tauranga Racecourse Reserve Charitable Trust, which manages the leases on behalf of the council. The study aimed to provide certainty to those clubs as to what their future at that location might be, while also potentially helping to address the city's dire need for housing, Tolley said. "We do have a housing crisis in Tauranga," she said. "We are not shying away from that - that sits alongside the promises we made to the current users. It was in those plans for housing. It certainly was part of the motivation (behind the study)." One of the options for the land is to retain the status quo, while others incorporate varying degrees of active reserves, racecourse and golfing use and a space for the Bay of Plenty District Health Board. Tolley said that as part of the feedback process, the DHB lodged its interest but any more details on this were unknown at this stage. She confirmed nothing was "set in stone" and there was the ability to create hybrids of the options if that's what people wanted. "There are some big decisions that this city should've made, could've made and didn't make over these past 10 to 15 years," Tolley said. "We are here to make these decisions so the city can go forward." Kāinga Ora - Homes and Communities Bay of Plenty regional director Darren Toy said the lack of housing in the plans showed how well the project team had taken on board the feedback of what people wanted, "otherwise there would be seven options for housing". Toy refused to say what support the Crown would offer to help bring the final option to fruition. People have until late February to have their say on which option they would prefer. Council staff are expected to present these findings to the commission in March before a potential final decision is made in April. More information and a complete list of the options is available on the council's website. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted December 16, 2021 Share Posted December 16, 2021 Really? You think this is innovative? Other clubs have been community hubs for decades but unfortunately they are not favoured as racing venues. Westland Racing Club springs to mind. That's why they gave their assets back to the community. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doomed Posted December 16, 2021 Share Posted December 16, 2021 Perhaps use the land for a race course and a golf club. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Bloggs Posted December 16, 2021 Share Posted December 16, 2021 Now there's a thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted December 16, 2021 Share Posted December 16, 2021 1 hour ago, Doomed said: Perhaps use the land for a race course and a golf club. The sport is dead in the water in this country, these sorts of things are only the beginning. They get them going and then realise the horse racing side of things doesn't mix with the other areas , so guess what happens ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ragamuffin Posted December 16, 2021 Share Posted December 16, 2021 Could well eventually become a Waitangi Tribunal case if local council don't appreciate local iwi & their recommendations, better late than never I guess. https://www.sunlive.co.nz/news/281470-honouring-mana-whenua.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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