Road closures

At today’s Projects, Services and Operations Committee meeting the Council decided not to proceed with the Mount Visitor Information Centre project.
 
The Mount Visitor Information Centre project has been planned since 2015, in partnership with Tourism Bay of Plenty (TBOP), and has evolved through several iterations during that time.
 
“While there is no doubt that the Mount Visitor Information Centre is seen as a really important part of the visitor offering in Tauranga, the changing face of international tourism and growing demands on Council’s limited funds meant it was prudent to review this spending and that has led to today’s decision to cancel the project,” says Gareth Wallis, General Manager: Community Services.
 
There are no capital funds currently allocated to the project, other than $450,000 for design work in this current financial year. Council resolved on Thursday, 16 July 2020 not to utilise any of these funds until today’s options paper was considered. Given today’s decision no further work on design will be undertaken. The Provincial Growth Fund contribution of $980,000 will not be utilised and the funds provided to date ($98,000) will be refunded to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE).
 
“I’m disappointed that this crucial tourism infrastructure won’t be delivered for the region’s already hard-hit tourism industry,” says Kristin Dunne, TBOP Chief Executive. “The central government support through the Provincial Growth Fund confirmed that Te Tomokanga would deliver an unmet need in Tauranga Moana and Te Moananui ā Toi (the Coastal Bay of Plenty). I look forward to working with Tauranga City Council to find a timely solution.”
 
For this summer, an i-SITE will be temporarily relocated to Te Papa o Ngā Manu Porotakataka to provide information support for domestic visitors to the Mount.
 
“The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the landscape of the international tourism market and, in the short-term, this gives Council the opportunity to reset and relook at how we provide infrastructure to support that important industry," says Gareth. “This will be done holistically and taking into account other demands on Council funds as part of the current long-term planning process, which will lay out the plan for investing in our city over the coming decade."