Subj : Tauranga landowners oppose council's 'super stop' plan
To   : All
From : News Person
Date : Tue Mar 19 2024 01:19 pm

Plans for bus "super stops" in Tauranga's city centre are opposed by
landowners and developers, causing council to defer its decision.


Tauranga City Council proposed two new 90-metre bus stops on either side of
Durham Street south, at the Elizabeth Street end.


These stops would enable up to six buses to stop at once and also see the
removal of 18 car parks.


Buses currently leave from Durham Street north, but this was intended as an
interim interchange.


Council staff sought a decision on the stops as part of the city's movement
framework at a council meeting yesterday.


Collier Consultants founder Aaron Collier, representing developers Classic
Group and Zariba Holdings, told the meeting it was "a bit disappointing" they
heard about the plans third-hand before initiating consultation with council
staff.


Classic Group and Zariba Holdings jointly own land on Durham Street and they
had a "significant redevelopment" planned for 142 Durham St.


One of the "super stops" would be in front of the proposed commercial
building with ground floor retail space.

"One of the key considerations for any redevelopment in the CBD now, is
making sure that we have good active frontages and interactions with public
space," said Collier.


A lot of the social, economic, urban design and traffic concerns hadn't been
considered, he said.


There were concerns about social issues arising at large bus stops, said
Collier.


Before the bus stops were moved to Durham St north two years ago, there was
an interchange on Willow Street.


It was a hangout for homeless and youth causing antisocial behaviour that
prompted security guards to be hired.


Collier suggested the stops remained where they were further up Durham St or
be spread along the southern end of the street with three separate stops on
either side.


The owners were opposed to the "super stops" but supportive of separate bus
stops.


"There needs to be a bit more thought and a bit more planning involved."


Commission chair Anne Tolley said it was disappointing to hear landowners
weren't involved in early consultation.


The streetscaping, road strengthening and wastewater upgrades on Durham St
had cost ratepayers $10.5m, she said.


If the council went with the developers' suggestion of spreading out the
stops some of the gardens would need to be replaced with bus stops, said
Tolley.


She asked if the landowners would be willing to contribute to those costs.


Dwayne Roper of Zabrina Holdings said they would be contributing through
development contributions anyway.


Simon Collier, a shareholder of Foster Construction, which planed a
five-storey commercial development at 159 Durham St, said the plans wouldn't
be viable with "super stops" out front.


"Our tenants will be concerned about the safety of having all of those people
directly in front of their building."

Having the stops spread out would dissipate any congregation, he said.


Tolley said there were some "serious social issues" at the Willow St
interchange but incidents had been rare on Durham St.


"There is a bad perception, I understand that and the nervousness around it,
but it will change over time."


Tolley said they struggled with the practicality of "huge, big yellow buses,
which are largely empty" driving around a "very small CBD".


The council was struggling to find room for what the Bay of Plenty Regional
Council, which runs the bus service, needed in future, she said.


The commission opted to defer the decision about the "super stops" and have
staff engage with affected parties about their location and report back in
six weeks.


Council adopted new bus stops; four individual bays on Willow, Harington and
Hamilton streets, as well as two near Baycourt Community Arts Centre.

It also designated Dive Crescent as an area that could have six stops when
the need arose in future.


LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

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