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Tag: Tauranga

  • Tauranga traffic: Road-pricing idea could cost Pāpāmoa-CBD commuters $2428 a year – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

    Tauranga traffic: Road-pricing idea could cost Pāpāmoa-CBD commuters $2428 a year – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

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    A congestion-busting idea to toll many of Tauranga’s main arterial routes has been labelled “ludicrous” and “unfair” by people who could be forced to pay more to drive to the supermarket.

    Others worry it would push the cost of living higher and one business owner says it might prompt him to move.

    In one scenario of how a variable road-pricing idea being considered by Tauranga City Council might work, commuting between the CBD and Pāpāmoa in peak hours five days a week could cost more than $2400 a year.

    A council commissioner, however, says that example was “illustrative” and the council was only seeking feedback on whether it should further investigate the potential issues and benefits of the “SmartTrip” road-pricing idea.

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    It comes as Auckland Council considers congestion charging, which Mayor Wayne Brown suggested could involve paying $5 per trip to use some of the city’s busiest motorways in rush hours

    Variable road pricing in Tauranga

    Tauranga was looking at a variable road-pricing system, with a report presented to its council suggesting a system of access and distance-based charges for using certain roads in and out of the city centre could be a potential solution to traffic congestion.

    It would have more than 100 entry and exit points, require up to 100 cameras and would first need a law change to take effect.

    Priced roads included State Highway 2 and SH29A, plus local roads such as Turret Rd.

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  • Tauranga CBD gas main hit, cordons removed – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

    Tauranga CBD gas main hit, cordons removed – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

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    Cordons have been taken down after a gas main was hit in central Tauranga.

    A Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) spokeswoman said two fire appliances were called to the incident about 12.24pm.

    Fenz requested police set up cordons at Devenport Rd, Elizabeth St, The Strand and Wharf St, but these have since been removed and the roads reopened.

    Two fire appliances from Tauranga and Mount Maunganui were sent to the scene and the gas company was alerted, she said.

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  • Tauranga CBD to lose 147 Strand waterfront car parks for green space, businesses ‘fuming’ – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

    Tauranga CBD to lose 147 Strand waterfront car parks for green space, businesses ‘fuming’ – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

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    Mainstreet Tauranga chairwoman and Miss Gee’s Bar and Eatery owner Ashleigh Gee says closing The Strand waterfront car park will have a “detrimental” impact on businesses in the CBD. Photo / Alex Cairns

    Hospitality businesses in Tauranga’s CBD are “fuming” as 147 waterfront car parks are set to be turned into a green space.

    A bar owner says closing the parking area just before summer will be “the worst thing” for businesses, and a real estate leader says the change will be the “death nail” for the “dying” CBD and his business might move.

    Tauranga City Council says The Strand waterfront car park is closing on Monday for the area to be transformed into a green reserve and playground. It is expected to be under construction until mid-2024.

    The council says redeveloping this “prime waterfront location” is important for Tauranga CBD’s revitalisation and will be a “drawcard” for locals and visitors.

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    It says new parks have been added nearby and the number of spots in the city centre will “will largely remain the same” once work on the Spring St parking building ends.

    In under a week, however, more than 1000 people have signed an online petition expressing “concern and opposition” to the closure of “one of the city centre’s most vital car parking spaces”.

    It was started by Mainstreet Tauranga chairwoman and Miss Gee’s Bar and Eatery owner Ashleigh Gee on Friday.

    Mainstreet Tauranga chairwoman and Miss Gee’s Bar and Eatery owner Ashleigh Gee says closing The Strand waterfront car park will have a "detrimental" impact on businesses in the CBD. Photo / Alex Cairns
    Mainstreet Tauranga chairwoman and Miss Gee’s…

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  • Police arrest man after allegedly assaulting store worker in Tauranga CBD – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

    Police arrest man after allegedly assaulting store worker in Tauranga CBD – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

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    The Tauranga District Court house. Photo / Alex Cairns

    Bay of Plenty Police arrested a man after he allegedly assaulted a store worker before fleeing the scene with stolen items earlier this month.

    A man has been charged in relation to an aggravated robbery at a commercial business on Cameron Rd on April 8.

    Police were called at about 3.35pm after a man allegedly presented a weapon and assaulted a store worker before stealing items from the store and fleeing the scene.

    The store worker received minor injuries.

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    After an investigation, police arrested a 34-year-old man yesterday and charged him in relation to the incident.

    He is due to appear in the Tauranga District Court tomorrow.

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  • Tauranga CBD: Grey St building used by The Importer being bought by council for laneway – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

    Tauranga CBD: Grey St building used by The Importer being bought by council for laneway – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

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    The Importer store in Grey St is relocating. Photo / Sandra Conchie

    A CBD building is set to be knocked down to create a proposed laneway between Grey and Durham Sts.

    Furniture and homewares store The Importer, formerly at 79 Grey St, has moved to Mount Maunganui and Tauranga City Council intends to demolish the building to improve pedestrian and cycle connections and accessibility within the city centre’s retail precinct.

    The Importer is consolidating its business to its Tawa St store. Its owner has been approached for comment.

    Commission chairwoman Anne Tolley told the Bay of Plenty Times the council has an agreement to buy 79 Grey St.

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    Building the laneway was a “priority action” for the Knowledge and Retail Precincts, as defined in the City Centre Action and Investment Plan, Tolley said.

    “The laneway will support pedestrian connections between the retail precinct of Grey St, the University of Waikato and the future public transport spine. Apart from providing better connections between these key city centre assets, it’s also intended that in the short-term, this area would serve as a pop-up green space or carpark.”

    “We’re in the early stages of planning for this site, and we’ll share more details with the community once settlement is complete.”

    Neighbouring Paw and Partners canine innovative fashion store owner Scott Brownsaid he was disappointed to see any business move from the city centre.

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  • Tauranga council heeds call to loosen CBD parking noose, approves plans to help struggling businesses – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

    Tauranga council heeds call to loosen CBD parking noose, approves plans to help struggling businesses – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

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    Many commercial and retail premises are up for lease in Tauranga CBD. Photo / Alex Cairns

    The Tauranga City Council is going to tap into a special fund to explore a range of initiatives aimed at helping the CBD’s struggling businesses.

    Parking, a point of concern for many retailers, will be one of the items on the agenda.

    The move has been prompted by calls for action from inner city businesses which say the CBD is in crisis and they are struggling to attract staff because of a lack of parking.

    Commissioners were today asked to approve widening the scope of the $500,000 per annum three-year fund to better respond to concerns raised by CBD businesses, including parking restrictions.

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    The fund was originally intended to help increase the supply of residential accommodation in the city centre.

    However, council’s General Manager: City Development and Partnerships Gareth Wallis said the number of people wanting to access the fund had “dried up” so the money could be redirected into finding ways to help CBD businesses.

    “As a council, we can do more to support the city centre over the next couple of years,” Wallis said.

    “There’s definitely no silver bullet. If there was, we would’ve already done it,” Wallis said.

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    Wallis, and commissioner Anne Tolley, both referenced “particularly negative” feedback from CBD businesses last week.

    Tauranga City Council’s General Manager: City Development and Partnerships Gareth Wallis Photo / Andrew Warner
    Tauranga City Council’s General Manager: City Development and…

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