An attempt to save a triangle patch of grass could cost Tauranga City Council hundreds of thousands of dollars and delay the completion of the waterfront stair by a whole season, councillors have been warned.

The issue of the 35m2 section on the eastern end of the grassy triangle surrounding the Hairy Maclary statues was raised during discussion of the $3.5 million waterfront stair, jetty and pontoon project by the council's Monitoring Committee on Monday.

The completed design, with the grass clipped. Supplied Image.

Mayor Stuart Crosby wanted to know why 35m2 of the Hairy Maclary backdrop was going to be removed.

The designer LandLAB clipped the grass area to free up space around the turn on the promenade beside the jetty, says project leader Morgan Jones.

The area is beside the turn of the promenade and the access to the jetty and pontoon. There are restrictions affecting the design and the time.

An almost immediate start is required to have construction completed by December 20, otherwise construction will stop over summer and won't resume until Easter 2017.

Simply moving the steps won't work either. It will expand the area to be reclaimed to the point where a resource consent will probably be required, says Morgan.

Not only will that add to the delay, it will also add significantly to the cost.

Work must start in two to three weeks, but making design changes will take four to six weeks, which would then flow on to decision made on the project itself.

Around $522,000 has been spent to date on design, engineering reports, tendering and consenting costs.

The committee members decided to receive the report, which includes the completed Access to Water design, while directing staff to speak to LandLAB about a ‘minor change to the amount of grass' before council makes its final decision.

The cost of a re-design might cost $15-20,000, says councillor Steve Morris.

'There will always be costs when we speak to our designers,” says city transformation manager Jaine Lovell-Gadd.

The $3.25 million budget for the project was reported and endorsed by councillors in December 2015. The Streetscape, Waterfront and Open Space fund has been adjusted in the 2015-2025 Long Term Plan to reflect this spending in the 2016/17 financial year.

LandLAB is the design lead and Beca is providing engineering services. Their cost estimate for the construction of the tidal stairs, pier and pontoon was provided in June was 3.25m based on the design then being 90 per cent complete. The sum includes a contingency of $360,000.

A Registration of Interest was developed by staff and LandLAB with input from the Public Art Advisory Group and independent advisors from the artistic community, calling for proposals for public art to be integrated into the project.

The evaluation and appointment of an artist will be worked through following the close of registrations. The successful proposal will be brought to council in due course for formal approval in accordance with the Public Art Policy.

The report in Monday's committee agenda says the overall design intent and vision of the project, as provided by lead designer LandLAB, is to reinforce this area as the active water's edge destination at the intersection of the north-south waterfront promenade and the east-west Wharf St and Masonic Park 'civic axis'.

The combination of pier, wharf and stairs stitch together land and water to create a defined and enclosed 'blue room' which reinforces Tauranga's spiritual and physical connection to the harbour.

The design has already been modified following discussions with the Licence Parties who include; Tangata Whenua, Tauranga City Centre businesses/retailers, Event organisers, Water space users (including vessels working from Fisherman's Wharf, Mooring owners and water sport organisations), The University of Waikato Marine Research Centre.