Site considered for new marine facility

An aerial shot of Marine Park, including the proposed area for revocation. Supplied image.

Tauranga City Council has agreed to support in principle to seek revocation of the recreation reserve status from an area of land at Marine Park.

In a media statement, Tauranga City Council says this is to enable a potential long-term lease of the land to the University of Waikato in order to establish a new marine research and educational facility, subject to the survey plan and public consultation.

Consultation will be carried out in November and December 2018 to seek the community's opinion.

Earlier this year, a number of businesses expressed their concern over plans to lease a previously identified open space at northern Sulphur Point, to the University.

However a further assessment presented a feasible location on Marine Park where the University could potentially develop their new marine research and educational facility.

'Marine Park is a recreation reserve at Sulphur Point and its existing, as well as planned, activities have been taken into account.

'The identified area is located at the southern end/middle of Marine Park and is 6,920m2. This meets the anticipated size required for the University to establish the facility, consisting of a two to three storey building (about 2400m2), yard space and car parks.

'Public access to the water's edge will be maintained with the proposed development set back accordingly,” says council.

'This will maintain a pedestrian link along the coastal edge connecting the northern and southern parts of the reserve.”

Public consultation, including a drop-in session and the opportunity to provide feedback online and offline will take place for at least one month, commencing in November 2018.

A decision on whether or not to proceed to seek revocation will be made following consideration of the feedback received.

A decision to revoke the reserve status of this area of land ultimately sits with the Minister of Conservation.

Deputy Mayor Kelvin Clout says he's excited to progress this significant project for the city.

'We are committed to keeping the University's marine research centre here in Tauranga and listened to the community feedback we received in the first round of consultation.

'The previously identified site at Northern Sulphur Point didn't receive community support and I believe we have found a good alternative. We would now like to understand the community's view on the potential use of this area of the reserve.

'The assessment we've been presented today, gives us a clear picture of the feasibility and potential of the new site.

'This new facility would expand our capability to protect Tauranga and New Zealand's marine environment through a number of research programmes that provide opportunities and solutions in the areas of pollution prevention, climate change and sustainable aquaculture.”

In 2016 the University approached Council with the wish to work collaboratively towards establishing an internationally sought after, multidisciplinary research and educational facility close to the city centre.

The investigation included both privately owned and Council owned land. This was narrowed down to two areas at Sulphur Point which had the potential for a suitability site. In December 2017 the southern, grassed area of Northern Sulphur Point was determined as the most feasible site for this potential development.

Council carried out formal consultation from 12 February to 9 March 2018 regarding the proposal to long-term lease the identified area of land to the University for the purpose of establishing a new marine research and educational facility.

After considering community feedback, Councillors agreed to assess Marine Park to identify a potential site. The area of land at Northern Sulphur Point was removed from further consideration.

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3 comments

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Posted on 17-10-2018 10:03 | By 82m

Does the "research facility" need to be next to the water? I thought that most of the actual "research" would be done on/in the water and the location of the "facility" would be less important.. Or do they just want the nice view?


82m...

Posted on 18-10-2018 15:50 | By Border Patrol

...the council have had their eye on this land for a while now. They have and are always bending over backwards for the university and if you read their spiel of requirements, the things necessary for their facility could be accommodated at the new marine park, I understand they will be opening other stages for development in the future. However, the difference is that the university can get council owned green space, who will rezone it and then lease to the university probably for a peppercorn rent. What bothers me the most is that this land was meant to be for the enjoyment of everybody, now they want to allow a commercial entity to build on it, and where will it stop? I read the other day there was a closed door council meeting so some developer could discuss building an aquarium- wonder where that will be??


Don't Worry !

Posted on 18-10-2018 22:58 | By The Caveman

It was a DONE DEAL long before the public/ratepayers ever got to know about !!!


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