Residents are being invited to help shape the design for the proposed development at Te Tumu in Papamoa East, at two information days this week.
Tauranga City Council is working together with landowners, developers, iwi and hapu to collaboratively decide what the Te Tumu area – which could provide housing for more than 15,500 people – should look like.
On Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 November people will be able to learn how the project has progressed over the last two months, and share their feedback on draft plans for the future urban growth area.
Since the last information days in September, work on Te Tumu has moved into the master planning phase – modelling what the area could actually look like. This includes looking at how and where to place commercial areas and open space, the internal roading network and community facilities, what housing types should be provided, and where are the areas of natural and cultural features that need to be protected.
Tauranga Mayor Greg Brownless said that lots has happened since the last information days, which more than 300 people attended.
“We’d like to thank everyone who joined us at the September information days, and for the great feedback you gave us”, Greg said.
“You told us we need to provide for a variety of different housing types adequate infrastructure like a connection to the Tauranga Eastern Link, plenty of trees and open space for all ages, and great community facilities,” he said.
“You also underlined the importance of preserving and protecting the environment and archaeological sites in the area, and we get that.”
“With this feedback, work has begun on the Te Tumu master plan. We have drafted some options and are now at the point that we would like the community’s views on these.”
At the information days, residents will be invited to review and provide their feedback on the first draft master plan for the area, showing the different land uses (e.g. residential, commercial, town centre, active reserve, education etc.) and the proposed roading network.
The information days will also serve to gather the community’s input on the kind of facilities they would like to see in Te Tumu parks and reserves, how people would like to access and use the beach and the Kaituna River, and what people want in terms of transport options.
“Council staff, landowners, developers and our stakeholders have lots of ideas and differing points of view on what should be provided in Te Tumu. Help us decide which ideas we should explore further” said Greg.
The information days are on Wednesday 15 November, from 3pm to 7pm, and Thursday 16 November, from 3pm to 6pm, at the Papamoa Community Centre (next to the library), 15 Gravatt Road. People can drop in at any time and the content presented will be the same on both days.
If people are unable to attend the information days, they can still be involved and have their say by completing the survey online at Te Tumu from this Wednesday and up until Friday 15 December.
For more information visit Te Tumu or email: tetumu@tauranga.govt.nz