Tauranga Community Survey
A SUSTAINABLE BAY OF PLENTY post
Sustainable Bay of Plenty Trust has partnered with Papamoa Residents & Ratepayers Association (PRRA), Mount Maunganui Ratepayers, Residents & Retailers (MRRR), and a number of other community groups to undertake a survey on some key Tauranga sustainability issues.
This came about after Tauranga City Council’s 2024 Long Term Plan (LTP) consultation in November-December 2023 left out water supply, wastewater and stormwater expenditure after 2025 - despite the new government stating the responsibility for three waters infrastructure would remain with councils.
In early January, about a dozen business days after public consultation ended (and in response to a letter from Local Government Minister Simeon Brown), Commissioner Tolley emailed Sustainable BOP to tell us that the Council had changed its mind and decided to include three waters in its LTP.
That has drastically changed the Council's plan. It means total ratepayer debt is now estimated to triple over the next decade, from $1 billion to $3 billion – massively higher than the $1.34 billion stated in the consultation documents. Rates will now increase by 156% over the coming decade - about three times what was stated in the consultation.
Yet TCC has so far refused to re-consult on its plan, despite Minister Brown saying "I expect to see the wider community consulted on any significant decisions, just as would happen under an elected council."
This community survey was undertaken in response to TCC’s decisions, to seek the views of Tauranga residents on the key issues - including whether the Council should re-consult on the LTP.
We have just tallied up the survey results, after receiving 1506 responses. There is overwhelming support for the Council to re-consult on its plan and the vast majority of people want the elected councillors to make final decisions on the 2024-34 plan.
Summary of Results:
92% want mayor & councillors elected in July 2024 make all key decisions.
92% want Tauranga City Council's revised Long Term Plan (LTP) to be subject to new consultation.
95% prefer Council cut back on some projects to keep debt down.
94% want a cheaper Civic Centre option (41%), or neither the full or cheaper civic centre options (53%).
90% do not support TCC’s proposed Smart Trip road pricing scheme.
96% do not support ongoing ratepayer funding of growth (via rates and ‘off the books’ IFF levies) and want the government, developers and/or new residents to pay for all growth infrastructure.
83% do not support the proposed Tauranga Domain Stadium (another 12% only support stage 1)
86% do not support residents paying much higher user charges for the use of sports fields, boat ramps and other council facilities.
85% do not support TCC's plan to close Otumoetai Pool in return for a new Memorial Aquatic Centre.
94% support more transparency and putting the proposed Sulphur Point Marine Park development on hold until an elected council makes the final decision.