Approvals for new housing developments in Paengaroa, Pongakawa and Pukehina Beach need to be fast-tracked to meet worker demand in the kiwifruit industry and the planned Rangiuru Business Park.

That was the message to come out of a public meeting in Te Puke last week to discuss the SmartGrowth Future Development Strategy, which addresses growth across the Western Bay of Plenty district and Tauranga City. The proposed strategy is open for submissions until November 5.

Te Puke Economic Development Group managing director Mark Boyle says about 50 people attended the meeting from a broad cross section of the community, including developers, business people and community groups.

'One of the key messages was we want fast-tracking of approvals for housing in those areas,” says Mark.

'The developers are ready to go and they'll pay the financial contributions for infrastructure. It's all on the back of kiwifruit growth and the planned Rangiuru Business Park.

'We want to get stuff going - we have a very serious proposal on the books to build 300 houses in Paengaroa, a serious proposal to build 139 houses in Pukehina and a third in Pongakawa.”

Mark says with developers ready to contribute to the infrastructure in the area, it's not going to be an additional burden to ratepayers.

'Why wouldn't you do it?” he asks. 'It's positive and it is much-needed growth. There are more and more people coming to live and work in the area and we're talking about a mix of housing to suit the economy generally.”

Mark says at the moment, there is simply not enough housing available in the district to cope with the influx.

'There is some land in Te Puke being released for housing, but over the next five to 10 years we're going to need a lot more than what the current Te Puke township can offer. We need more housing.”

Mark says small rural communities in the Te Puke district are becoming increasingly desirable as a place to live and work.

'There is close proximity to Tauranga and Rotorua, 12 schools, a really good retail service centre, industrial, trades and professional services, plus sports clubs and activities,” he says.

'We have good social and physical infrastructure, but we need more housing and the appropriate infrastructure to go with that.

'Please, leaders of SmartGrowth, let's get on with the job.”

The last of the consultation meetings about the Future Development Strategy, as well as the Tauranga Urban Strategy, will be held at Tauranga City Council on Willow Street from 5-7pm on Wednesday, October 31.