Tauranga Waterfront Reserve opens

The newly opened Northern Waterfront Reserve.

A “vibrant new green space” is now open at Tauranga’s waterfront on The Strand for the community to enjoy.

The Northern Waterfront Reserve, nestled in the heart of the city centre, opened today - right in time for summer, said a statement from Tauranga City Council.

The new reserve area includes a lush green space for events and community relaxation, shared pathway, half basketball court (which is due to open mid-November), and refurbished living seawall featuring innovative sea pods.

The Northern Waterfront Reserve is part of Tauranga City Council’s ongoing city centre transformation, which has already seen the successful openings of Masonic Park in September, the Southern Waterfront boardwalk, and the railway underpass last month.

Complementing these developments, the waterfront playground is set to open in December, just in time for summertime fun, and is conveniently located adjacent to the Northern Waterfront Reserve, and the popular tidal stairs and pier with bombing platform.

Tauranga City Council project manager Vijesh Ravindran expressed enthusiasm for the new space.

“It’s great to have a new green space in the city centre, right alongside the harbour. It offers plenty of space for future events and our community can easily access the shared pathway, half basketball court, and new living seawall.”

Tauranga City Council’s city development and partnership general manager Gareth Wallis echoed this excitement.

“Much like the recently opened Masonic Park and Southern Waterfront boardwalk with the railway underpass, it’s wonderful to see members of our community already enjoying the Northern Waterfront Reserve. Seeing people walking, jogging, and cycling along the new shared pathway and relaxing in the green space is fantastic and exactly what these spaces were intended for.

“With the waterfront playground opening next month, this space in the city centre is going to be awesome, and I can’t wait to see our community exploring the entire area.”

The living seawall, tidal steps and sea pods at the newly opened Northern Waterfront Reserve.
The living seawall, tidal steps and sea pods at the newly opened Northern Waterfront Reserve.

The Northern Waterfront Reserve not only enhances the recreational offerings of the city centre but also supports the community’s health and wellbeing, says Gareth.

“Its innovative features, such as the living seawall with sea pods, will help protect the waterfront while providing an inviting environment for all.”

Council would like to acknowledge the significant contribution made by the Port of Tauranga towards the cost of the living seawall pods. Partnerships like this are key to realising our aspirations for our city.

“The living seawall is testament to our shared commitment to preserving and enhancing the natural beauty of Tauranga Moana,” said Port of Tauranga chief executive Leonard Sampson.

For more information about these and all the other projects happening in the city centre, please visit: www.tauranga.govt.nz/ourfuturecitycentre.

 

10 comments

The Master

Posted on 11-11-2024 13:56 | By Ian Stevenson

The meaning of "Vibrant"... is 'full of life.'

The images show rocks, light poles, path etc, none of which appear to be alive...?? They in fact have the same sort of look at the Tauranga CBD on a good day.

There is a bit of grass and a couple of trees which is not a lot different to before the spend up... but not a lot... no sign of a single person (life) anywhere to be seen?

I am a little unsure of what exactly has been achieved?


Hhhmmm

Posted on 11-11-2024 14:24 | By Saul

I'm sure the masses will swoop on the City centre now..... Rolling my eyes lol


No parking

Posted on 11-11-2024 16:37 | By an_alias

Yeah so vibrant but hey you can't park anywhere or if you do it costs you an arm and a leg.
Council paid MOPE at its best


Whoop whoop

Posted on 11-11-2024 16:38 | By nug

Looks no different..same wasted piece of land with a few new plants and a heap of concrete....love the way there's stairs leading to the water right beside the kids playground that also has train tracks within a stone's throw...great thinking tcc ....at least the homeless have a slightly nicer area to congregate..a win for at least sumπŸ€¦πŸ˜„


Hmmm

Posted on 11-11-2024 17:12 | By Let's get real

SAUL.
The hoards of visitors will still need to find somewhere to park. They might also need to negotiate crossing the rail lines, the construction site and the hoardings that are still in place.
I happened to see the site today and let me assure you, it is far from easily accessible and definitely NOT completed, as far as construction huts and coned off areas are concerned.
But we should be used to council misdirection by now. (I hope I'm not being too mean, to the little darlings)


It May Not Be . . .

Posted on 11-11-2024 18:56 | By Yadick

It may not be our dream or what we imagined or even what we wanted. I must admit though, in the photo it does look nice and I will ve taking a stroll along it.
Love it or hate it, it's there now so we may as well enjoy it . . . or be grumpy old men about it. Life's too short for holding grudges and being grumpy so I'm going to enjoy it even though I was and still am against it.


Spot the People

Posted on 12-11-2024 07:36 | By Thats Nice

Well, it does look nice but that's irrelevant when minimal people will be using it and the cost associated to build it with ratepayer's money. Please stop wasting money on the cbd with all its empty shops as there's is absolutely no point until these shops are full again.


Vast Improvement

Posted on 12-11-2024 09:12 | By Bureta John

Despite the predictable negative comments I think plenty of people will agree its a vast improvement on what was there before. Anything is better than a carpark on our city's prime waterfront land.

We now have a waterfront walkway, grassed areas with trees that will grow and provide shade, a soon to be completed playground and plenty of seating for people to stop and enjoy the view.

Unfortunately we are stuck with the railway line but apart from that it looks good


@ Let's get real

Posted on 12-11-2024 11:04 | By nerak

Loved your last sentence! If you want the opposite of misdirection, take a look at the fast evolving extension to the Tauriko Mall. I go there most weeks, and am blown away by the literal hive of industry on this site, (don't ever see a worker standing around doing nothing) and the rapidity with which construction is taking place.
Should have got these contractors to work in the CBD.


Prime waterfront land

Posted on 12-11-2024 13:28 | By Wundrin

which only exists because it was reclaimed specifically for use as a carpark - probably because there was a shortage of roadside parking. Sound familiar?


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