Tauranga City Council Elected Members have seen first-hand how quality urban design can transform and revitalise a place, with a trip to Auckland.
Elected Members who participated were Mayor Greg Brownless, Councillors Larry Baldock, Leanne Brown, Kelvin Clout, Bill Grainger, Gail McIntosh, Max Mason and Catherine Stewart.
The two-day itinerary, which began yesterday, included visits to Auckland Central Library, a tour of Hobsonville Point Precinct, and various inner city streetscape projects, including Federal Street, Karanga Plaza, Lorne Street, Brittomart precinct and Te Whero Bridge.
They met with Auckland City Council’s senior management team and Councillor Penny Hulse to discuss the approach Auckland was taking to revitalise their city centre and attract investment in the city centre. They also met with Colliers International Director of Hotels Dean Humphries to discuss the current hotel market in New Zealand.
Mayor Greg Brownless said the visit was initiated as part of the Heart of the City programme, and was an opportunity for Elected Members to see how quality urban design can change the fabric of a city.
“The trip has provided a valuable opportunity to see some of these streetscape projects and how Auckland has developed and invested in open spaces in the city centre, and to ask developers and the Council about the challenges they have faced,” Mr Brownless said.
“The business case that is underway for our city library was top of mind when we visited Auckland Central Library. We met with Louise LaHatte, the Manager Customer Experience, and gleaned from her what makes the central library so special and, if they had a blank slate, what they would do differently.”
Elected Members are on their way back to Tauranga this afternoon.
Pictured, from left: Cr Catherine Stewart, Doug Spittle (TCC), Cr Kelvin Clout, John Hong (Panuku Development), Michael Tucker (TCC), Cr Max Mason, Cr Larry Baldock, Frith Walker (Panuku Development), Cr Bill Grainger, Cr Leanne Brown and Morgan Jones (TCC) at Wynyard Quarter, Auckland.