While the Western Bay continues to grow at a rapid rate, the lack of sporting and cultural facilities is holding the city back.

In April this year, Tauranga City councillor Max Mason did a comparative survey of other cities around the country. He found Tauranga lacks the eight fundamental facilities and attractions other cities take for granted.

Among the key facilities missing in action were an international hotel, a large performing arts/conference centre, a museum and an outdoor sports/event stadium.

Why this is relevant is because Nelson will host the All Blacks in a test against Argentina in September.

Yes, little old Nelson, with a population of 51,400 gets the All Blacks and Tauranga, with a population of 137,900, is lucky to get the Bay of Plenty Steamers to the ramshackled old Tauranga Domain.

Next Saturday, Canterbury, the best-performing provincial rugby team in recent years with a worldwide following, play the Bay of Plenty Steamers in Tauranga.

It is a sad state of affairs that we have nothing in this city to match the magnificent Rotorua International Stadium, where the Steamers enjoyed a meritorious 30-10 win over Taranaki last Saturday night.

The rugby facilities at Tauranga Domain resemble Te Kuiti's rather than a major New Zealand city.

The newly re-laid athletics track and surrounds has encroached onto the grass area, so the javelin run-up at the bowling club end now finishes beside the goalposts.

With some artificial grass, the all-weather surface has been covered, but the dead ball area is perilously short to get the nod from New Zealand Rugby to host Mitre 10 Cup games.

But we can do better. Much better.

At Mount Maunganui, a world class facility has evolved with little financial input from Tauranga's city and regional councils, which shows it can be done.

Over the summer, the Bay Oval hosted international cricket to a level scarcely believable five years ago. The Black Caps played the West Indies, Pakistan and England, the White Ferns hosted the West Indies and a hugely successful Under-19 Cricket World Cup was staged there.

Drones projected priceless images to a worldwide television audience of the glorious scenery along the coastline surrounding the Bay Oval. It is something for all of us to be very proud of.

If the design is done right, a Tauranga city or Blake Park-based stadium can be more sustainable than you may think.

Take North Harbour Stadium in Albany as an example. It is busy most days of the week, with the stadium hosting small-to-large conferences and events, school balls, gala dinners, trade shows and exhibitions.

What is needed in Tauranga are the representatives from business, education, city and regional councils, charitable funders and central government to get together and formulate a plan to move forward with.

The Bay Oval has proven what can be done with the right attitude.

New Zealand Rugby has centralised the men's and women's sevens teams to the world class University of Waikato Adams Centre For High Performance training facility, right next door at Blake Park.

Let's aim high to get the All Blacks, the New Zealand Sevens teams, the Warriors, the All Whites and the Chiefs playing on a regular basis in the Western Bay area. The commercial spin-offs are potentially enormous.

Build it, and they will come.