City councillors today took a critical step in the process of rebuilding the civic centre by agreeing to knock down the existing administration building and build a new one on the central city site.
Councillors agreed to amend the city's long term plan to incorporate the projects including $22.3 million in capital costs, plus an additional $4.3 million to provide public open space across the campus.
The Tauranga City Council offices on Willow Street are to go. File photo.
A recommendation for the council to set aside $2.5 million to redevelop the Masonic Park failed.
There was debate over whether that money would be used for removing the toilets, and covering the carparks and if it could come from different budgets.
It is money that will have to be paid and it became apparent only some of it will be available from other departmental budgets. Mayor Stuart Crosby admitted they would probably revisit it.
Councillors also agreed to proceed with developing detailed business cases for a new museum and a new library. The request to develop an indicative business case for a 1200 seat multi-purpose performance venue will now be included in the next Long Term Plan.
The council also approved the demolition of the current civic administration building as soon as practicable at a cost of $400,000.
The meeting began at 9am with the decisions being made after midday. Most of the time leading up to the vote was a recap of progress so far and revisiting the reason why the council is going to demolish the existing civic administration building instead of refurbishing and rebuilding.
It convinced everybody except councillor Rick Curach, the only one to vote against the civic heart project.
The proposed plan for the civc heart.
Rick thinks more time and effort could have been spent looking at alternatives. He says the public is being asked to support a nearly $200 million project on completion, and was only given a narrow avenue in which it could give feedback.
A wider scope for feedback would also open the discussion on the future of the three councils in one city, says Rick.
Currently the regional council, the district council and the city council all have separate buildings and there has been little public discussion about their future housing.
26 comments
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Posted on 06-09-2016 16:02 | By surfsup
Do this lot never listen to the rate-payers, This is an obscene waste of ratepayers money, there is no guarantee that these councilors will even get back in after the elections.
Go Rick
Posted on 06-09-2016 16:12 | By Hot stuff
The only one on the council with any brainsThey sure no how to waste money that's for real .Watch this space for all the over runs starting with the demolition costs .
A wise descision
Posted on 06-09-2016 16:53 | By The author of this comment has been removed.
The building is doing no good sitting empty. Larger businesses similar in size to our council have a policy of not owning real estate, (apart from the bloated banks), that way a budget for repairs and maintenance is not required. My only reservation is that if any council land is built upon by a developer that the land be retained by the owner i.e. us!
INHERITANCE
Posted on 06-09-2016 17:29 | By tabatha
The new council will inherit this decision, yes something has to be done but surely a few months delay and let the new council members have some say.
Cunning Stunt .....
Posted on 06-09-2016 18:09 | By astex
Typical of this crowd to completely dismiss the wishes of the rate payer and additionally create a situation where there is NO going back for the new council. What is there to lose by waiting for the new council or even having a referendum on the options in the election? With the do-up of the existing building included!
Overit
Posted on 06-09-2016 19:03 | By overit
I thought a protest march to the Council Chambers would be a good idea, however, I am bogged down with work. If anyone wants to take up the cause I will be there.
Robac
Posted on 06-09-2016 19:19 | By leighrob
well we all new this was going to happen, so is the upgraded computer system being dumped as well now how much did we pay for that again!!!!!
Demolition
Posted on 06-09-2016 19:20 | By waiknot
Demolition was always going to win over Democracy.
carparks?
Posted on 06-09-2016 19:29 | By myview
What is meant by covering carparks?
We knew this tho didn't we..
Posted on 06-09-2016 23:26 | By groutby
and is going EXACTLY as the plan THEY want..and they represent us??..joke of course, but the new council will simply have the (sadly valid) excuse of "it was done before we are elected" shite as per usual..look at it any way you want, yes we elect them 'democratically'..but are they on the ratepayers side?...NAH..!!enjoy your nice warm seats in the new building all..guess we should employ a few more staff to just to make absolutely sure the ratepayer is screwed a little bit more!..HAVE FUN!..
Leaky office block?
Posted on 06-09-2016 23:58 | By Crash test dummies
So the decision falls on the admittance that the Council is unable to manage its own buildings properly. This being the authority who demand from others compliance? What a strange world it is that the internal standard achieved is a complete financial disaster for all ratepayers.
Where's a blindfold?
Posted on 07-09-2016 07:41 | By Captain Sensible
Traitors to the people they pretend to represent.
My goodness
Posted on 07-09-2016 07:49 | By fletch
Maybe the council should have moved to Truman Lane where Trustpower came from
Hmmmm
Posted on 07-09-2016 09:36 | By How about this view!
So what was the point of the "public consultation process" and what was the resulting RATEPAYER directed plan? So much crap is going on behind closed doors and it's about time results and opinions were publicly notified. We have had submissions on this fiasco, but apart from the usual weasel-words about overwhelming public support????? I have never seen a single shred of evidence that this council is following ratepayers requests and demands. Those with vested interests in council business, it would seem, will be the big winners from ratepayers largess and those of us that have to do business with these turkeys will continue to have to pay.
Civic Centre
Posted on 07-09-2016 12:26 | By Denny G
This decision should be left to the new council yet to be elected. What do we need to do to have this decision implementation delayed ?
@ myview
Posted on 07-09-2016 18:40 | By Crash test dummies
Covering carparks means that the new palace will "cover" the carparks that are there. They will vanish and be no more!
Treachorous Double StandardsD
Posted on 07-09-2016 18:42 | By ROCCO
What a bloody farce public consultation was really non existent.
This is a joke...
Posted on 08-09-2016 16:58 | By morepork
... but it isn't funny. It is becoming increasingly obvious that the current Council has no respect or regard whatsoever for the Ratepayers of Tauranga. You don't need to be Einstein to recognize that the points raised by Rick Murach regarding the housing of 3 different Councils SHOULD be addressed before they start knocking down buildings. The need for "public consultation" is treated as a game and the options are channeled and limited to ensure that Council get what THEY want. (A nice new building whether it is warranted or not, and whether we can AFFORD it or not...) There needs to be ANSWERABILITY, above and beyond just getting voted out. (After the damage is done...) If we HAVE to have 3 Councils, put them in ONE building, and let them pay one third of the cost each.
It's well and truly decided..
Posted on 10-09-2016 08:42 | By groutby
...the "Civic Heart" will happen, the flash new "Palace" for TCC staff will happen, both with very little or no public consultation...the headline will read: "Tauranga Civic Heart....somewhere for TCC staff to go and eat their lunch while the other ratepayers work through to pay for it"....what a joke.
@ groutby
Posted on 11-09-2016 14:46 | By Crash test dummies
One more note on that, TCC staff have spent so much borrowed money that they now have to get someone else to pay and rent it. It is indeed a sad day that the TCC coffers are so empty and the desire to spend remains so strong that this is now what happens.
Picture above
Posted on 11-09-2016 14:49 | By Crash test dummies
never have I seen that many people in the CBD such as red square, usually it is vacant on a good day. The only reason for the warm fuzzies here is that it helps sucker in the Councillors to smile and accidently say yes.
here we go again
Posted on 12-09-2016 18:49 | By old trucker
I was told months ago by a councillor that this was already signed off to go, all the money they have spent fixing the leaks,by the way i did say they should move put to old trust power building,well blow me down, that awesome complex is no more, FLATTENED what a blinkin waste,imagine now all BRAND new stuff in new baubles,my gosh $50.000 bollards, NO worrries eh, just to blinkin LAZY to put a sign up, TCC cars only,its a wonder they havent built a covered walkway from park over line to work, whats wrong in where they are now,they won,t work any harder in NEW DIGS,they do not listen to people, its time to vote and all these people come out of woodwork to be voted for,you never here from them till now, voting is all rigged, for Mayors position,Thats all, my sixpence worth, thankyou Sunlive,10-4 out.
Moving Location
Posted on 16-09-2016 14:08 | By flyingtoaster
I think the Old Trustpower building would be ideal for the TCC's main base of operation, with only a small office in the city centre, for constituents to visit. We live in digital age. The TCC does NOT need all their people under one roof on prime realestate in the city centre. Other businesses could lease or rent existing premises, that sure would help ease the TCC spend, and provide some relief for parking downtown. Nooo... can't do that, they already spent 50k on hydraulic bollards.
Typical Councils
Posted on 26-09-2016 05:46 | By rosscoo
People never learn Councils across country always do what they want and any public forums is only a front. Of coarse they had already decided what to to with there building before putting out to the people.
@ rosscoo
Posted on 30-09-2016 17:56 | By Crash test dummies
That is the truth of it
@ flyingtoaster
Posted on 30-09-2016 18:20 | By Crash test dummies
You are missing he whole point is the schemes and plans, TCC staff and management think they are important, nay vital to the CBD, its future and survival. In fact the opposite is actually the truth of it but that flies against the self desired beliefs.
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