A city of two councils

Decision on the council building future are expected this year. Picture: Supplied.

Tauranga ratepayers face the prospect of forever paying for two separate council buildings in the same city, unless some way is found to get the two talking.

Tauranga City Councillor Larry Baldock is currently preparing for the first city transformation committee meeting which in February will re-start the city council's project to replace its administration building.

The first meeting will probably involve laying the groundwork getting the committee members agreed on its approach, but it's too to say what that will be.

They will be looking for partners to be involved in the project, says Larry.

'We've got a lot of work to do to get moving forward on it all.”

He favours talking with the Bay of Plenty Regional Council about future plans, but he doesn't think the city council should build on the Elizabeth Street car park adjacent to the other council's Regional House.

'We would rather they could move down with us, because a lot of work was done last term about the location and keeping it in the central city and keeping it linked to the civic square,” says Larry.

'I think unless they were going to build it for us - which would be an offer we would probably have to consider seriously - I think general agreement has been that it should be down here in the lower part of the city centre.

'We should be talking to the regional council because why have two separate offices. The horse might have bolted and they might be too far along with their plans.”

Regional Council chairman Doug Leeder says this week that work will begin this year on refurbishing No 1 Elizabeth Street, so the council can move staff currently in three Tauranga offices, under one roof.

'But it doesn't really make sense to me that we have got to be spending money on two buildings really,” says Larry.

'I think if we asked all the ratepayers they would be saying; ‘why can't we work together?' It's a conversation that we will have, I think very shortly. It has to be something they are willing to look into.

'The idea of a one stop shop for ratepayers to go for consents, but in my opinion it would need to be a location that is linked into the civic square.”

There is still time to work on a joint venture if there was a willingness to get together and discuss it says Larry.

The regional council is further along with its plans than is the city council, but even further down the track the regional council will still have a saleable, leasable building.

The Western Bay of Plenty District council which also has its offices within city limits at Barkes Corner turned down a previous request to consider sharing a building with the city council.

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8 comments

Not for the first time

Posted on 16-01-2017 18:29 | By nerak

I'm left wondering exactly what Larry has said here. Talk about the long and winding road, this affair could go on for years, unless someone has the gumption to act. Hold tight your wallet, ratepayers.


DUMP

Posted on 16-01-2017 18:40 | By CC8

Yes DUMP is the keyword here. We were told in the 80s that the council needed to rebuild in the city centre to keep the city alive, but that the current ( at the time) building was a DUMP, we needed a 50+ year building which was modern , timeless and would be able to be upgraded ...hasn't worked out has it ? Now the staff say it's a DUMP. They also assured us that the Mount, Western Bay and the regional Council would all be under the same roof within a few years....ALL LIES , Mount Borough was annexed in the 1989 local Govt reforms...not by democratic process but the others have resisted and here we are ..all working in self declared DUMPS . All wanting to spend millions. They should merge in a central building at Te Maunga next to the DUMP....


Please

Posted on 16-01-2017 18:45 | By astex

Could someone explain why the option to repair the existing buildings is not being taken at a cost of under $10 Million. Also Larry, you may have a better chance of combining the two council buildings if you negotiated with them instead of dictating to them re which site. Why does either building even need to be in the CBD anyway?


Bruser

Posted on 16-01-2017 19:19 | By Oldy

So many councils and so many staff for such a small populationWe are overloaded with departments and local authorities.Maybe a hub for all of them And a new city created for the myriad of cash gobblers out of town?


We or

Posted on 16-01-2017 19:27 | By Merlin

When he says we does he mean me as they are only preparing for the meeting to discuss the options?


BEST MOVE ------

Posted on 16-01-2017 21:54 | By The Caveman

Combine the councils - get rid of half the "do nothings" that work for both of them, AND also get rid of the stupid situation where one council takes the other to court - spending RATEPAYER money with no outcome other that lawyers making money.............................


Hmmm

Posted on 17-01-2017 09:35 | By philiphallen

Stop paying your rates until council can prove a vast cost saving in wages and office costs. Both councils should share office building and reduce duplicate jobs.


Larrry has a plan!

Posted on 17-01-2017 10:52 | By waiknot

Reading this article it appears Larrys idea of negotiation is ...... Larrys way


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