Work at Mount Maunganui's new urban green space development on 123-141 Maunganui Road will begin, providing a new space for everyone to enjoy by December 2018.

It will feature grass areas to play and relax, native trees to provide shade, a water feature and a drinking fountain, bike racks and repair station and a flexible space for events and activities all year round.

Tauranga City Council says the site fenced off from today onwards so works can begin.

'To prepare the site for the development the remaining six Phoenix palms will come down,” says Tauranga City Council.

'Following this, construction of the new space will take place, including stormwater system upgrades.”

The construction fences will be turned into pieces of art as part of the Mount Enviro Fest in July, organised by Mount Maunganui's CBD membership association, Mount Mainstreet.

Six Mount Maunganui schools will beautify the construction fences and everyone is invited to celebrate the artwork, with plenty of activities going on at the event at Mount Mainstreet on Saturday, 21 July.

Car parking in central Mount Maunganui

The final urban space design will retain 14 car parks, including mobility car parks, and four car parks adjacent to the site along Maunganui Road.

The May Street car park will remain open throughout the development. Twelve extra parking spaces have been added to the car park and a part of Shadelands Lane. Four temporary spaces have been created for mobility parking near the development.

New car parking spaces have been added in Nikau Crescent (25 spaces), Prince Avenue (16 spaces) and the May Street car park and Shadelands Lane (12 spaces).

These are in addition to car parking already available in those areas and are located within two minutes walking distance to the Mount Mainstreet shopping area.

In the near future, May Street car park will become a P180 zone, however parking fees won't apply. P180 will help increase the turnover of cars with more car parks available for people visiting Mount Mainstreet to shop and dine.

Greening the new urban space

The new urban green space development is making way for new native plants greening the space.

Council will be planting a mix of native trees on site. A pōhutukawa will be the feature tree of the new space, attracting birds and representing the region's signature coastal tree. Over time, the combination of species will provide the site with enhanced shade.

The new park will also be home to low growing native shrubs and grasses, representing our coastal environment.
To support our native forests and wild places, Council says they strongly support planting native species in our urban areas.

Eight Phoenix palms will be retained and eight palms will be removed in the centre of the site to provide opportunities for native species to be planted and to create a more flexible multi use space.

The removal is also required for Council to replace the stormwater system, which has been damaged by the palm roots.

For more information and to stay up to date: www.tauranga.govt.nz/urbanspace