Plans to redevelop the civic precinct took another step forward today, with Tauranga City Council holding its first Council meeting of the year at a new, temporary location.
Today’s meeting took place at the Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s Chambers on Elizabeth Street as part of a temporary arrangement between the two organisations.
All Council and Strategy, Finance and Risk Committee meetings will be held at the Regional Council while the civic precinct is being developed. Other Committee and Advisory meetings will be held at Council’s offices at 306 Cameron Road, or at other places in the community such as marae.
The move is part of Council’s staged withdrawal from its Willow Street site. The Customer Service Centre has already relocated to He Puna Manawa, 21 Devonport Road, and the Tauranga Library is due to open at the same address at the start of April.
Commission Chair Anne Tolley says holding key Council meetings at Regional Council’s central location ensures interested people can still attend meetings.
“We are grateful to the Regional Council for allowing us to hold our meetings in its Chambers, which is a familiar location to many people in our community,” says Anne.
“It’s an ideal solution until the civic whare is completed as part of the new civic precinct, providing a central meeting place where future elected members and the community can come together to share, debate and discuss ideas.”
Democracy Services Manager Coral Hair says meetings will still be livestreamed on the Tauranga City Council website and recordings will be available to view online as well.
“We are fortunate to already have systems in place that allow the transition to other meeting locations to be as simple as possible, with minimal impact on the community,” says Coral.
“It’s also a great opportunity to hold meetings at other venues around Tauranga, so we can be even more accessible and connected with our communities.”
Confirmed locations for future council meetings are regularly updated and can be viewed on Tauranga City Council’s website
Anyone attending a Council meeting in-person will need to provide their vaccination pass and wear a face mask.
Watch meetings live