Tauranga City Council's Access to Water project at Tauranga waterfront received the Judges' Choice Award last night at the inaugural Bay of Plenty Property People Awards.

The awards celebrate people in property, recognising excellence in leadership and innovation in the Bay of Plenty property industry whilst celebrating outstanding contributions to the industry and economy.

Tauranga City Council Deputy Mayor Kelvin Clout was thrilled to accept the award on behalf of the Council.

'We are all very proud of our city centre waterfront; this is a great opportunity to celebrate the efforts of all those involved and thank our community for their ideas and their support,” he says.

The Access to Water project signalled council's first investment in an amenity in the city centre and the city's waterfront for a number of years.

Following extensive community engagement, council set out to achieve the aspirations of the community and create a high quality open space with access to our treasured harbour.

The Access to Water project replaced a hard rock seawall, with curved concrete steps that fold down into Tauranga Harbour, reconnecting people with the waterfront and city centre. The $3.2 million project included tidal steps, a bombing platform, pier and pontoon.

City Transformation Chair Cr. Larry Baldock says that the new facilities have been enthusiastically received by locals since day one.

'It's wonderful to see so many people out there relaxing in the sun, children swimming off the tidal steps and teenagers bombing in the Tauranga Harbour,” he says.

'This is the beginning of a suite of projects, and sets the benchmark for quality public amenities in Tauranga, creating great spaces for people to enjoy,” says Cr. Baldock.

Camden Cummings from Cummings Studio Architects, was one of the judges on the panel for the Property People Awards last night, and said that the judges felt the Access to Water project delivered significant value to the Tauranga community, crafting a space for people to gather and enjoy our famous coastline.

"The Access to Water project is a catalyst for change in Tauranga's city centre. A bold vision by Tauranga City Council of what the city can become, delivered well and celebrated within the community," says Cummings.

The core team that designed and delivered the project comprises were Tauranga City Council – Project Lead, LandLab – Lead Designer (Urban Design and Landscape Architect), HEB – Works Contractor, and Ngai Tamarawaho and Ngati Tapu.

The wider team supporting the project included a number of other parties that contributed to the success of the project. This includes the two artists Elliot Collins and Marcus McShane, art curator Kate Darrow, consulting design team including Tonkin&Taylor and Beca, and local businesses and the wider community.

'I would like share my deepest thanks to our community who supported this project, and are now out there making the most of it,” said Deputy Mayor Kelvin Clout.