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Welcome to the first SmartGrowth newsletter for 2010.
We hope you found our first online newsletter in December interesting and informative.
The newsletter is a bi-monthly update on SmartGrowth actions and projects.
Tertiary partnership crosses the divide
The strength of the partnership being forged between the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic and the University of Waikato was celebrated last month with the opening of a building that symbolises an historical legacy for education and a unique link between the two regions. SmartGrowth has supported the two tertiary institutions in growing programmes and research in the western Bay of Plenty.
The new building, `Maharaia' - named after leading educationalist, Tauranga-born, Dr Maharaia Winiata (1912-1960) - was opened by the Maori King, King Tuheitia on 11 February.
Dr Winiata championed the vision for new opportunities for Maori to engage in the world and to contribute to their own development.
King Tuheitia was accompanied to Tauranga by a huge contingent of Tainui people – in honour of Dr Winiata whose work with Maori in the Waikato region forged lasting bonds with the Kingitanga movement.
The $4.6 million building on the Windermere Campus is a clear statement that the partnership forged between the two tertiary institutions is a commitment to nurturing the future generations of the region.
University of Waikato Vice Chancellor, Professor Doug Sutton, chose the occasion to recognise the contribution of the Tertiary Education Commission to the partnership of the two institutions.
``The polytechnic and the university wanted to do something unique – to combine and provide to the best quality and at the least price to the taxpayer, comprehensive training and research, in and for this part of the world.
``Had the Tertiary Education Commission not recognised the value of this idea and put money aside, we would not be here today and this region may well be the worse off for it.''
Prof Sutton also acknowledged the support of the western Bay of Plenty Economic Development Agency Priority One for sharing the vision of the two institutions.
``Every person educated here adds to the prosperity of the region and that is the aim of this – we wish to make place, to make richness of mind and to make ours a better society a better region and nation.''
The 1261-square metre building, designed by Tauranga architects Chow Hill, is a glass-fronted, two-storey building close to the main polytechnic campus. It houses 56 staff in a mix of individual offices and open-plan format. The two institutions cater for 430 equivalent full-time students across a range of partnership programmes. This could increase to 1000 full-time students by 2010. Chairwoman of the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic Andrea Marsh said the occasion was more than simply a salute to a building. It was recognition of a partnership of esteem, parity and understanding that had at its core a focus on the students.
Pro-Vice Chancellor Maori, Linda Tuhiwai-Smith said she could not think of a more appropriate name for the building.
``This speaks to a commitment of the endeavours of these two institutions in this place – to pursue what he (Maharaia Winiata) modelled with integrity and forward thinking.
`` We do not put names on buildings willy-nilly, this is the name of someone who, when we walk through these doors, we admire, look up to and seek to replicate their journey.''
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| King Tuheitia (centre) flanked (left) by Bay of Plenty Polytechnic Chairwoman Andrea Marsh and (right) University of Waikato Vice Chancellor Professor Doug Sutton and other special guests. |
King Tuheitia officially opened Maharaia.
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Strategic Partner Profile
Federated Farmers Bay of Plenty is a strategic partner with SmartGrowth to ensure a strong voice for farmers on issues that could affect farming economically and in terms of sustainability.
Farming faces challenging times in the sub-region due to the impact of exponential residential growth on our productive agricultural land.
Another critical issue facing the farming sector in the future will be the availability and allocation of water.
Long-time Western Bay farmer Allen (Jim) Coster shares his opinion on these issues.
Jim is a Federated Farmers representative on the SmartGrowth Strategic Partner Forum.
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Jim Coster uses this stream
to power water for all his stock
and five houses on the property
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One of two water wheels that Jim Coster has made to enable his farm to be self-sufficient in water.
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During the 50 years he has lived in the Kaimai Range, Allen (Jim) Coster has witnessed many changes in pastoral land use as Tauranga and the sub-region's population growth has given rise to vast rural-residential expansion and new infrastructure to support that growth.
Once far-flung from the city and surrounding suburbia, Jim's 750-acre farm in the lower Kaimai Range is now just a short drive to lifestyle blocks and a large industrial development at nearby Tauriko.
As Jim says - ``the Tauriko development is not very far away from the Coster acres – and there is a certain degree of apprehension about that.''
Part of that apprehension is Jim's regret that good pastoral land has been sacrificed to build the Tauriko industrial complex – and he is further disturbed that even more industrial and residential development is pending on the rich soils of the Wairoa River Valley.
``I really wonder whether that is appropriate use of that prime land,'' says Jim.
Maybe, he says, the SmartGrowth mantra to protect versatile soils from encroachment by development needs to be tougher.
``Preservation of prime land for production purposes is paramount. There's a line that must be drawn – outside of which land must not be encroached on – but I feel that lifestyle, commercial and industrial enterprises are getting more than their fair share. Oddly enough the pastoral sector has been singled out for the most severe of the Western Bay of Plenty District Council subdivision restrictions.''
Maybe too, he says, it is a reflection of the diminished regard with which farming is held within central and local government.
``Farming was once very powerful within Government. But now few MPs are farmers and even fewer have a farming background – so there is not the same empathy for farming as there was,'' says Jim.
And he feels that people need to be reminded every so often that pastoral farming in the Bay of Plenty earns a cool $1 billion annually for the national and local economy.
On water – Jim says the fundamental issue is to get valid data on how much water there is and he welcomes the scientific research currently being done by Environment Bay of Plenty. (See article in this newsletter.)
Observing nature is one of the greatest rewards of farming and over his lifetime on the land Jim has accumulated sound wisdom on the ways of water.
The water values of the Kaimai bush was recognised 30 years ago when Jim was one of a group of farmers who formed the Kaimai Settlers Association to fight against the Government's proposal to cut down the native bush and replace it with pines.
The farmers won their case and their efforts led to the Kaimai Mamaku Forest Park being established on the basis it was a high rainfall and water catchment area.
Another fundamental in understanding the principals of water availability and allocation is to observe the minimal flow in streams, says Jim.
``Stream flows diminish dramatically when the heat is on in summer and when Tauranga's population swells enormously – that's the critical flow – when you get the very low flows coinciding with high demand from the public.
``That needs to be identified and quantified – and I have yet to see any data on that,'' says Jim.
While the western Bay is blessed with healthy aquifers, streams and rivers, Jim believes some aspects of water will become contentious over time and the bigger users (horticulturalists, commercial and industrial) will have to accept that they may not be able to use the amount of water they would like. Water, water, water - how do we share it around?
Water and how to manage it in to the future is a growing debate in New Zealand.
We are a fortunate country in that there is a significant supply of high quality water.
However as land use changes and demand for water escalates most of us are realising that we cannot be complacent about the future capacity of our water resource. Water is one of the key economic drivers for the western BOP especially horticulture.
In the western Bay of Plenty sub-region water use is intensifying across all sectors - horticulture, dairying, pastoral farming, commercial, industrial and residential.
Environment Bay of Plenty is developing a Water Sustainability Strategy specifically for the western Bay of Plenty sub-region to give direction for the future management of the water resources.
This strategy draws on science that has identified long-term water requirements and water-short areas for both surface (streams and rivers) and groundwater resources in the sub-region. There are also parts of the sub-region where water is plentiful. It is very important for the economic growth of the western BOP to identify water-rich areas for industry, agriculture and horticulture as well as for domestic supply to use those resources sustainably.
Changing technologies and smarter use of water in the key sectors of horticulture and agriculture open opportunities to use water more efficiently and to access water-rich areas.
Key issues that need to be determined include:
- Allocation: How much surface water and groundwater is available for allocation
- Volume: The actual amount of water used versus the amount allocated via consents (paper allocation)
- Rights:How much water is used as a right - ie as a permitted activity
- Awareness: Ensuring community awareness of water resources
- Efficiency: More efficient water harvesting and storage methods
- Drought: A strategy for drought allocation and priority users
The purpose of this strategy is to enable a coordinated approach to managing water in the western Bay of Plenty sub-region.
The strategy is a chance to be proactive in addressing future problems, seizing opportunities and balancing the various needs for water with the protection of the environment for future use and enjoyment.
The population of the western Bay of Plenty sub-region (including Tauranga City) is set to double by 2055. In addition, industrial, agricultural and horticultural demands on water are intensifying which collectively will put considerable pressure on our groundwater aquifers, rivers and streams.
As shown in the above map of water short areas by 2055, there are parts of the sub-region that may become ‘water short’, where the demand for water exceeds what is available to be taken. (Blue shading denotes groundwater and yellow denotes surface water).
This of course assumes that water use stays the same i.e. fresh water is always used for frost protection or for irrigating lawns and gardens. In areas such as Te Puke and Athenree both groundwater and surfacewater resources may come under significant pressure.
The Strategy seeks to address those future problems now.
Visit www.envbop.govt.nz to view the Environment Bay of Plenty Water Sustainability Strategy
Harbour Link Bridge opens
The new Tauranga Harbour Link bridge was opened by Transport Minister Steven Joyce on 18 December 2009, under budget and three months earlier than scheduled.
In September 2009, more than 20,000 people took advantage of the open day to walk across the harbour on the the newly built second bridge. The following day traffic was diverted on to the new bridge while the original bridge was closed to traffic for widening and refurbishing works.
The project provides a continuous four-land expressway from Takitimu Drive in Tauranga City to Mount Maunganui, including a duplicate harbour bridge.
This new link has doubled the traffic capacity of the harbour crossing, improved all-day traffic flows and provided quicker, more efficient port access - plus far less frustration for peak hour commuters.
The project was built in two stages beginning with the four-laning of Hewletts Road in 2006 and completed in 2007. Stage Two began in July 2007.
The Harbour Link is the final part of the link, providing quicker access between Tauranga and Mount Maunganui.
Project stats:
- 65 rugby field equivalents of hot mix road surfacing for Stage 1
- 36,000 cubic metres of concrete poured in Stage 2 - 6000 full concrete trucks
- 3500 tonnes of steel
- 750,000 metres of stressing sand
- 184 beams, 37 metres long and 80 tonnes in weight, form the Chapel Street Viaduct
- 105 piles drilled, 19 of which are in water, the deepest being 65 metres below the seabed
Recovery starts after recession dents growth
As expected, growth in the western Bay of Plenty sub-region felt the impact of the recession in the last financial year with tumbling housing and building activity.
However since July 2009 growth has started trending back to pre-2008 levels.
In Tauranga dwelling applications increased and in Western Bay there was an increase in rural subdivision applications in February and April largely in anticipation of proposed changes in the District Plan that would limit the capacity for rural subdivision.
The latest SmartGrowth Development Trends Report revealed a 37% decline in dwelling consents issued in the sub-region.
In Tauranga City there were 40% fewer consents issued in the last financial year compared to the 2007/2008 year and in Western Bay of Plenty District there was a 31% decline in dwelling consents.
Subdivision activity in the sub-region also slowed during the last financial year.
Additional lots created to 224 stage (title) decreased by 5% in the Western Bay District from the previous year and is 31% down on the five-year average.
In Tauranga City additional lots to 224 stage declined by 50% compared to the previous 12 months.
Across the sub-region subdivision occurred mainly n greenfield areas with 57% additional lots in urban growth areas.
In the Western Bay District subdivision in urban growth areas dropped by 77% on the five-year average.
The Papamoa urban growth area has the largest greenfield design capacity in Tauranga City and there is 14% capacity remaining.
Pyes Pa West is the most recently established urban growth area. While only 81 new dwelling have been completed by June 2009, 113 dwelling consent had been issued and 506 lots had reached the final approval stage under RMA Section 224.
In Western Bay Districtt, the Waihi Beach urban growth area has the largest greenfield design capacity and 40% of this remains.
Omokoroa is the urban growth area with the largest percentage capacity remaining at 51%.
Katikati has both the most limited percentage capacity remaining (27%) and the least number of years supply - theoretically 13 years.
Subdivision throughout the Western Bay has also been limited except for in Katikati where it is at 36% utilisation.
Current subdivision levels are significantly below the general policy aim of 80% signalled by the Regional Policy Statement (RPS) before state 2 areas become available for development.
Growth still on target
Despite the short term decline in building and subdivision activities, SmartGrowth's long term growth projections remain unchanged.
Growth forecasts in population and households have been made by the University of Waikato.
The western Bay of Plenty sub-region population is projected to increase from 130,000 in 2001 to 286,000 by 2051.
Households are projected to increase from 49,000 to 120,000 over the same period.
Greenfields are expected to accommodate 71% of future growth to 2051, while intensification is expected to accommodate 29%.
At June 2009 the greenfield/intensification percentage split in the sub-region was on target at 70%/30%.
The SmartGrowth Development Trends Report is released six-monthly.
View it in detail on our website: www.smartgrowthbop.org.nz
Settlement patterns under review
Future settlement patterns in the western Bay of Plenty are under the microscope as it is becoming clear that more land may be needed to fulfill the future demands of population growth.
The SmartGrowth Strategic Review of Settlement Patterns aims to present a future plan for settlement in the western Bay of Plenty until 2021.
Under the 2001 SmartGrowth Strategy, the 50-year population forecast for the sub-region was 300,000.
This estimate is unchanged but on current growth patterns, the projections to 2021 indicate a shortfall of 10,000 people and 4000 houses.
The Settlement Pattern review has been extended six months from its December 2009 deadline so that more thorough and detailed analysis can be done on housing affordability, the possibility of greater densities in existing urban areas and options for the relocation of industrial land.
On one hand, high land costs are proving one of the biggest barriers to people's affordability to live in some areas of the sub-region where growth is being allocated.
On the other hand, topographical barriers and the cost of infrastructure are preventing population capacities being reached in some greenfield areas such as Te Tumu and Wairakei.
For example, original estimates of 30,000 people in Wairakei/Te Tumu has been revised to 20,000 largely due to topographical restraints and natural hazards of the coastal area.
The review is being extended to examine potential settlement sites in the existing northern, eastern and central corridors and is considering 10 locations for residential growth and eight for industrial land. Some of these areas are in existing areas where boundaries could be extended without impacting on surrounding agricultural land.
There is no intention to extend the original sub-regional ``footprint'' set in 2001 when SmartGrowth made a pact with the rural community that 75% of future growth would be within the current footprint of Tauranga.
While it is all very well to plan ahead for settlement patterns and to map future growth footprints, ultimately market demand will dictate whether people want to live in those planned areas.
The social component of future communities is also an aspect that is to be studied in more depth – in other words, what will be the impact of growth and what sort of communities are we going to have in the future in terms of ethnic diversity and social infrastructure.
As the SmartGrowth strategy moves further into implementation it is clear that planning is not simply about arranging physical things such as land use and infrastructure. It is about considering the community outcomes of that infrastructure and creating an environment in which people can afford to live and work.
A key aim of the Settlement Pattern review is to ensure that it is a robust strategy with an affordable housing emphasis that will stand the test of time.
The Settlement Pattern Review will be completed in June 2010.
Eastern Link on track
The NZ Transport Agency expects to award two contracts this month for projects that will precede construction of the Tauranga Eastern Link project, to extend Truman Road and relocate a water main.
The $455 million project to build a four-lane motorway between Te Maunga and Paengaroa, comprises of two sections - an upgrade of the existing State Highway 2 between Te Maunga and Domain Road at Papamoa and a new motorway from Domain Road to Paengaroa. Only the completely new section of the road is proposed to be tolled.
In December the NZTA Board submitted a formal proposal to the Minister of Transport to bring forward the start of construction on the project by tolling one section of the road. The Minister has yet to decide whether to recommend to the Governor General that an Order in Council be established to toll the road. Consultation conducted last year showed overwhelming public support to toll the new road so construction can begin five to 10 years earlier than if it was funded through traditional funding sources.
Tauranga Eastern Link will improve connections between the Eastern Bay of Plenty and the Port of Tauranga, provide better access for people in the growing urban area of Papamoa and take freight traffic out of Te Puke township.
Great news for papakainga aspirations
Tauranga MP Simon Bridges believes the recent deal struck between Housing New Zealand and Kiwibank will boost papakainga housing initiatives in the western Bay of Plenty, particularly the pilot project on a Te Puke marae.
Maori who want to move back to ancestral land will now be able to get a $200,000 loan from Kiwibank with no deposit, to build or buy a home.
Housing Minister announced the partnership between Housing New Zealand and Kiwibank last month.
The Crown would guarantee the loans under the Kainga Whenua scheme. Generally loans would be capped at $200,000 but in more expensive areas greater limits up to $350,000 could be negotiated.
Mr Bridges says the deal struck between Housing New Zealand Corporation and Kiwibank is good news for Maori who want to build on ancestral land.
``In the past it has been difficult, to say the least, for Maori to provide collateral to banks given the multiple-owned nature of the land in question,'' he says.
``I recall telling iwi at the opening of the papakainga project on the Makahae Marae in Te Puke last year that the Government was keen to unlock tribal land for housing where appropriate, so I am delighted that now there is something specific in place to help.
``I believe this will be a boost for papakainga housing in the Western Bay and am particularly hopeful it will assist at Makahae Marae where I know the iwi is keen to progress housing development.''
Meanwhile, momentum is gathering among Maori in the western Bay of Plenty to push for houses to be built on ancestral land.
A voluntary group representing western Bay of Plenty Maori formed the Maori Housing Forum in September 2009 with the aim of supporting the housing aspirations of Maori Land Trusts to use their whenua (land) to meet the housing needs of the beneficial owners on their papakainga.
SmartGrowth representative for the Combined Tangata Whenua Forum, Te Pio Kawe, says the Forum's Steering committee, with support from Tauranga Moana Maori Trust Board, is exploring the chance to employ a researcher through Te Puni Kokiri to assess the Maori Land Trusts' current provision of housing for their beneficiaries.
``From this work it is hoped that a papakainga proposal will be developed that identifies the support services and resources that will be required by Trusts to complete their proposals,'' says Te Pio.
``Other issues this work will identify are the collective timeframes and an estimate of the total number of homes that could be built on Maori Land across the sub-region.
``The research will create a Maori Housing Strategy for the western Bay of Plenty sub-region.''
The research is expected to be completed by June 2010 followed by the formation of the Maori Housing Strategy in July 2010.
The low level of housing development on Maori land in the western Bay of Plenty sub-region was highlighted in housing statistics for Tauranga City Council that revealed only 11 new dwellings have been built on Maori land in the last five years and a similar number in the Western Bay District.
The Maori housing toolkit and the Makahae Marae Papakainga project are working towards identifying development issues for Maori Land Trusts, local authorities and the Maori Land Court.Western Bay seeds international coastal research
The Whareroa Marae on the edge of Tauranga Harbour was the welcoming stage last month for a New Zealand milestone in coastal and shelf marine research.
A delegation of doctorate students from the University of Bremen in the Federal Republic of Germany, accompanied by PhD students and researchers from the University of Waikato, (pictured below) were welcomed on to the Whareroa Marae of Ngaiterangi Iwi to mark the opening in Tauranga of a centre for international coastal and shelf marine research - a first for New Zealand.
The powhiri was followed by a reception hosted by the German Embassy.
INTERCOAST (Integrated Coastal Zone and Shelf Sea Research) is the culmination of two years' planning during which the sub-region's economic development agency Priority One partnered with the University of Waikato and the German University of Bremen to establish the research centre.
This multi-partnership has brought together researchers from the two universities who will work on projects that focus on the Bay of Plenty coast and inner continental shelf – comparable areas to those in the North Sea.
Up to 40 international PhD students will contribute to the nine-year project focusing on the fundamental scientific research needed for sound decision-making on long-term sustainable development
A group of 11 international students and five students from the University of Waikato took part in the first conference and workshops in Tauranga and Hamilton last month.
The goal of this training group is to provide knowledge on oceanographic, sedimentological, biological and chemical processes plus socio-economic interactions and legal effects.
This knowledge is a cornerstone for sustainable use of coastal and shelf sea areas.
The research is undertaken within an interdisciplinary framework ranging from the natural sciences to legal, economic and sociological disciplines.
Results are expected to contribute to sustainable development issues in the region, while the scientific basics can be exported to many of the world's coastal zones.
Greg Simmonds, Priority One’s Project Manager, believes INTERCOAST will set the foundation for the establishment of other regionally-relevant and internationally applied research opportunities.
- A key focus for INTERCOAST will be sharing regionally relevant science with the community.
- Priority One, in partnership with the University of Waikato, gained more than $5m in funding from the German Government in April 2009 and has secured a further $2.3m in local co-funding for INTERCOAST initiatives from entities including Environment Bay of Plenty, Port of Tauranga and Priority One.
- SmartGrowth supports the expansion of tertiary opportunities to advance economic opportunity and growth in the Western Bay sub-region. INTERCOAST exemplifies how the rich resources of the region can be used to promote the region internationally.
- Environment Bay of Plenty has committed to fund $1.5 million over 10 years for a University of Waikato Chair in Coastal Science.
The new Chair will focus on coastal marine and estuarine research particularly within the Bay of Plenty region. The new Chair will be an integral part of the INTERCOAST programme and will be based in Tauranga.
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