Greerton will not be getting a new library, the Tauranga City Council decided today.

A demonstration outside the council chambers by schoolchildren supporting a new library, and a 2164 signature petition received from Greerton residents, failed to stop councillors voting against the $8 million library project.

Instead councillors voted for the cheapest of five options, to refurbish the existing library building for $236,000. This decision was in line with most public submissions received on the Greerton library in the Ten Year Plan process.

Today's decision is part of the Ten Year Plan deliberations, which will be continuing this week, with the Mount Hot Pools project coming up for deliberation tomorrow at 9am.
Audit New Zealand has already said the draft Ten Year Plan as it stands is unworkable. The council is expected to make further spending cuts this week because Audit New Zealand says its current spending is 'economically unsustainable”.