The people of Tauranga are being invited to help shape the future of our city centre streets.
A public survey is open until 30 September, asking people to share their views on which streets should be prioritised for investment and how they can be made more welcoming, vibrant and easier to move around.
Te Papa Ward Councillor Rod Taylor encourages everyone with an interest in the city centre to take part.
“Our city is growing quickly and the decisions we make today will shape the streets we enjoy tomorrow,” he says.
“We’re working hard to build a great city centre where people can easily live, work, learn and play.
“Making our streets more inviting and accessible is a key part of that.”
Council is especially keen to hear feedback on Hamilton, Harington, Spring, Wharf, Willow and Grey streets, as well as The Strand.
Urban Centres Development Manager Emily McLean says some of these streets are 30 years old and no longer meeting the needs of a modern city centre.
“We need to make our streets more enjoyable places to spend time – as well as connecting people with all the exciting new developments taking shape in our city centre,” she says.
“Community feedback is really important because it’s going to help guide these upgrades for the next 10 years or so.”
Transport System Operations Manager Shawn Geard says he’s also keen to hear feedback on the city centre’s trial one-way street system and how to use the extra space beside the single lane.
“We’re proposing to make the one-way street trial permanent because it will help people move more easily around the new civic area, Te Manawataki o Te Papa,” he says.
“Depending on feedback, we can also explore one-way options for The Strand and Grey Street to create more space for dining, events and public life.”
Tauranga City Council is seeking feedback through a survey on its Kōrero Mai - Let's Talk Tauranga webpage at https://letstalk.tauranga.govt.nz/projects/pave-the-way-for-our-city-centre-streets
The page includes other ways to provide feedback, including in-person at STEMFest on September 28.