The people of Tauranga are being asked to decide if they want to create a 'vibrant, exciting city centre” as part of the long-term plan consultation.

The civic precinct, Te Manawataki o Te Papa, is being heralded as a 'once in a lifetime opportunity” for Tauranga and two proposals are being put to the community for feedback.

The first is a full master plan that involves a single-phase staged development of the area between Wharf Street and Hamilton Street in central Tauranga.

It includes a library, museum, civic whare (a venue for council and community meetings), an exhibition space and upgrading Baycourt Community and Arts Centre.

Option 1 has an estimated cost of $303.4 million and build timeframe of 6 to 7 years.

It will also include the development of the waterfront reserve, between Hamilton Street and Wharf Street, linking the harbour with the civic precinct via Masonic Park.

Option two is a scaled back version that will include a library and community hub and the civic whare, with a cost of $126.8 million.

Commission chair Anne Tolley. Photo: John Borren/SunLive.

Commission chair Anne Tolley says the annual plan and long-term plan amendment contain some 'quite exciting opportunities for the city”.

'It's for the people who live in the city to decide, based on their comments to us over the last 12 months, do they want to be part of creating a vibrant exciting centre city,” says Tolley.

'Or do we just want an ordinary civic centre and rebuild the library and do a bit of landscaping.”

Tolley says option 2 is a 'valid choice” and it's up to the community to have the discussion about what should be at the heart of their city.

Te Manawataki o Te Papa, means the heartbeat of the Te Papa peninsula, which runs from Greerton to the city centre.

Stephen Selwood.

Commissioner Stephen Selwood says it is 'an incredible opportunity for the city”.

'We've spoken at length about the positive impact this will have not only on the city centre, but the wider economy of the city.

'It is not only a fantastic amenity for the city, it will have a significant positive impact in terms of the growth and dynamics of the CBD and the role that it plays in this really important city.”

In terms of funding the large undertaking, half the cost would be debt-funded and financed through rates. T

he rest would come from other sources such as government grants, the sale of non-core council assets and sponsorship.

Council has already committed $83 million in the long-term plan for the library redevelopment, so a further $67 million would need to be funded by the community if option 1 is selected, says commissioner Shadrach Rolleston.

Shadrach Rolleston.

'That is a significant investment overall for the community,” he says.

'I understand from a ratepayer perspective and from a community perspective some concern about the impact on rates.

'We have to think about this in a broader context in terms of what we're trying to seek and deliver for our city in terms of the city centre, but also the way the city develops and evolves into the future.”

Option 1 would mean the median residential ratepayer paid a targeted rate of $265 per year and the median commercial ratepayer paid $705 in 2030, when the precinct is operational, according the draft LTP documents.

Option 2 would mean the median residential ratepayer paid a targeted rate of $105 per year in 2030 and the median commercial ratepayer paid $281.

The draft LTP document says the rates increase happens very gradually in the early years as the capital projects are constructed.

Selwood wants people not to have a 'very narrow focus” on the percentage increase in rates.

'We are investing in the future of the city, yes it costs money,” he says.

'But if we don't invest properly, then we'll pay in so many other ways in terms of a city that is not prospering.

'That's the sort of city and CBD we saw when we came here and we want to turn that around.”

Consultation on the draft annual plan and long-term plan amendment begins on March 25 until April 26.

-Local Democracy Reporting is Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air