Tauranga is set to benefit from government funding to the tune of $148 million which will result in over 3,500 new homes in the Bay of Plenty city.
Two bids have been approved for a share of the government's Infrastructure Acceleration Fund (IAF), with $68 million being allocated to new builds on the Te Papa Peninsula, and a further $80 million for homes in Tauriko West.
The announcement was made by Housing Minister Megan Woods as part of Labour's $540 million plan to build pipes, roads and a cycle bridge to support the development of 16,600 new houses across the country.
Tauranga City Council commission chair Anne Tolley says the grants will help to address Tauranga's significant housing deficit.
'This is a game changer for Tauranga,” says Tolley, 'and will mean many more families will have access to affordable homes as the planned developments proceed.”
The Tauriko West grant will be part of a transport and water services infrastructure package with an estimated cost of close to $260 million, allowing the development of 2,000 new homes in the city's western corridor.
Meanwhile, the Te Papa grant will be part of a $200 million infrastructure upgrading programme, including stage two of the Cameron Road project on one of the city's main thoroughfares, and increased water supply capacity.
The works will support housing intensification along the peninsula and are expected to facilitate construction of an additional 1,600 homes, including duplexes, townhouses and apartments, between 2023 and 2033.
'A key element of the investment in both areas will be encouraging a shift away from the use of private vehicles to public transport, cycling, walking and other active transport modes,” Tolley says.
Housing development in Tauriko West is expected to commence from 2027.
Tolley added there is 'still work to be done” to realise the vision for the western corridor, however she called confirmation of the funding 'a major step forward”.
'This will enable a wide range of housing options to meet community needs,” she says.
Tolley says the funding package for the Te Papa infrastructure is anticipated to include Waka Kotahi road subsidy funding, development contributions, potential Infrastructure Funding and Financing Act Transport System Plan levies and rates funding.
Minister Woods says a total of 13 proposals have been allocated from this round of the IAF in 11 centres of the country; Hamilton, Auckland, Tauranga, Christchurch, Kawakawa, Kaikohe, Westport, Upper Hutt, Waipukurau, Hokitika and Pahiatua.
'The IAF funding will support intensification developments in Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga to enable connected, inner-city communities,” she says.
'To date, $916.3 million in IAF funding has been committed to infrastructure projects throughout the country.”
Tauranga based Labour MP Jan Tinetti. Photo: RNZ.
Labour list MP Jan Tinetti says the funding is "fantastic news" for Tauranga, and a "great example" of how local and central Government can "deliver for our community and all New Zealanders".
Tolley says the funding package for the Te Papa infrastructure is anticipated to include Waka Kotahi road subsidy funding, development contributions, potential Infrastructure Funding and Financing Act Transport System Plan levies and rates funding.
Minister Woods says a total of 13 proposals have been allocated from this round of the IAF in 11 centres of the country; Hamilton, Auckland, Tauranga, Christchurch, Kawakawa, Kaikohe, Westport, Upper Hutt, Waipukurau, Hokitika and Pahiatua.
'The IAF funding will support intensification developments in Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga to enable connected, inner-city communities,” she says.
'To date, $916.3 million in IAF funding has been committed to infrastructure projects throughout the country.”
11 comments
Kiwibuild
Posted on 17-11-2022 17:23 | By Slim Shady
But weren't they going to build this many houses 5 years ago with Kiwibuild? Now they announce some more funding. Giving away funding is not actually building is it? This Government just announces things and congratulates itself, even though the actual stuff doesn't get off the ground for years and years, if at all. Yesterday, our glorious leader was all cock-a-hoop because she announced New Zealand would start importing limes from Vietnam. I don't think importing a few limes is actually that good for our economy but I think it's the announcement that floats their boat. Keep announcing things, smiling and congratulating yourself and hope people don't realize that it's meaningless and empty.
Listen!!!
Posted on 17-11-2022 17:42 | By The Professor
We don't want more houses in our region thanks.....at least until our roads are sorted and new ones built!!!
Listen please!
Posted on 17-11-2022 17:45 | By The Professor
We don't want more houses in our region....at least until the roads are sorted and new ones built....along with other infrastructure like water storage. The region is being seriously damaged and a lot less desirable to live in.
Awesome
Posted on 17-11-2022 20:01 | By Mr Dobalina
Earlier today there was a news headline saying that Tauranga could expect traffic congestion for the next 15 to 20 years, now this. Do people in government actually speak to each other?
RatepayerPapa
Posted on 17-11-2022 20:35 | By RatepayerTga
Please explain! Given the water restrictions we have year on year, where is all the extra water going to come from to service all these extra new houses/subdivisions?
Picture of...........
Posted on 17-11-2022 21:04 | By groutby
Ms Woods in a hard hat AND free taxpayer money does not equal any ACTUAL houses being built does it...ain't gonna happen, let's wait for the sad excuses...........yes from the minister and commissioners...............
Destroy roads and build more houses
Posted on 18-11-2022 08:25 | By an_alias
The cream is at the top for sure, we will destroy all roads but build more houses and stuff people in. Nice change of picture for Tolley, she's serious now.....and not laughing all the way to the bank....yeah right says Tui
This is insanity.
Posted on 18-11-2022 12:52 | By morepork
Given the current state of things, there should be NO new permits for houses on the Te Papa peninsular until the roads and traffic flows are sorted. Tauriko, fair enough. Housing developments should be outside the City area until access and infrastructure (water?) are able to cope with it. Queen Anne still clings to her illusion that people will leave their cars and take buses or bike into the City. I am unlikely to be here in 15 years, but I shudder to think what the "end result" of the nonsense we are seeing, will be for Tauranga.
Tauranga Exodus
Posted on 19-11-2022 07:03 | By Thats Nice
It's high time some of this lovely rainwater needs to be collected instead of letting it run out to sea. What's been done about that hah? All of this sounds absolutely crazy without the infrastructure being considered - muppets, the lot of them.
@morepork
Posted on 19-11-2022 17:16 | By Kancho
Tauriko is no longer outside the city and it's traffic goes in Pyes Pa road, Barkes corner and SH 29a and Cambridge road which are all heavily congested and a standstill at times , terrible road design again. . There is massive industrial and housing already and where is the priority of water ? . Soon when the Winston's Gib factory opens in Tauriko there will be raw materials coming from the port in many heavy trucks and likewise leaving the plant over the Kaimais to market. The government increased load weights has and will damage roads as already seen potholes etc. No area is immune and the South city is poorly served with transfer station lost and Greerton traffic design that will be extended the length of Cameron road.
@Kancho
Posted on 20-11-2022 12:51 | By morepork
Thanks for the correction; I'm probably a bit out of touch with boundaries... I completely agree with your post. And the overall idea to simply stop building houses for a while definitely merits further investigation.
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