The City Transformation Committee have received an independent planning risk assessment report on the proposed museum site at Cliff Road in Tauranga.
"The report provides more information to support Elected Members in their decision on the proposed museum investment as part of the Long Term Plan," said Larry Baldock, Chair of the City Transformation Committee.
Enspire provided a number of recommendations for what would be required to progress the museum proposal on Cliff Road including:
- An analysis of the capacity of the site and surrounding area to accommodate parking demand and traffic
- Take measures to improve pedestrian connectivity to the site
- Undertake further investigation for managing or mitigating the potential noise levels generated by the Proposal, particularly for outdoor events.
The report recommends that: Should the Council decide to advance a museum on Cliff Road, that it do so via an application for resource consent(s), with the presumption for a publicly notified process.
Enspire detailed that a resource consent process is anticipated to cost in the vicinity of $2m and take at least 24 months to complete.
Consultation on the Long Term Plan is now open and people are encouraged to make a submission by April 16.
Council will also be holding a referendum on the museum proposal as part of the by-election. People will be asked two questions:
- “Do you support Tauranga City Council including a museum in the 2018/2028 Long Term Plan?”
- “In terms of location of the museum, do you support: A – Cliff Road or B – Willow Street.”
This report further advances the business case, alongside LTP consultation and the museum referendum, to inform decision making for the Long Term Plan investment decision in June.