What does SmartGrowth do?

To provide a clear and unambiguous signal to the community on the long-term strategy, key components of the settlement pattern have been identified including an urban limit for the 50-year planning period. Issues of particular concern are the location and nature of residential housing, economic development (including the provision of adequate business land), transportation, and open space and opportunities for sports, arts and leisure activities.

Residential development

THE pattern of residential development to 2051 is based on these key elements:

• Keeping development within existing urban areas of Waihi Beach, Katikati, Omokoroa, Tauranga, and Te Puke.
• Re-development through mixed-use activity at business and community centres, and other preferred locations.
• Greenfield development at increased densities in residential growth areas at Waihi Beach, Katikati, Omokoroa, Bethlehem, Pyes Pa, Papamoa, Papamoa East, and Te Puke.
• Papakainga providing housing on multiple-owned Maori land for whanua and hapu.
• Other small settlements throughout the sub-region limited to a scale and character that does not detract from rural amenity. Staging of residential development will be done to ensure adequate supply of land for various needs and to lessen price pressures from supply shortages. Staging is also important to ensure servicing agencies have the capacity to cope with increased demand. High standards of urban design will be achieved through detailed local area planning and design policy and guidelines.

Through all of this, Tauranga city centre will retain - and enhance - its function as the business and cultural heart of the sub-region. Continued implementation of the Central Business District and waterfront strategic development framework will serve as a basis for further re-development. The city centre will increasingly serve as an area for high-quality, apartment style living.

Economic development

A thriving economy is an important component of sustainable development, as it enables people to meet their needs through employment and the availability of services.

The SmartGrowth Strategy has an important role in planning for the provision of business land and services to support investment. Supply of land should follow these key approaches:

• Whenever possible, provision in or near existing communities to promote accessibility for employees.
• Provision in close proximity to arterial transport routes to allow efficient movement of goods and to reduce adverse effects on residential areas.
• For additional land, provision at a rate and in a manner that matches population growth and location.
• For additional land, based in employment areas at Katikati, Omokoroa, Tauriko, Papamoa East, Rangiuru and Te Puke. SmartGrowth research has identified the general low-skill, low-wage make-up of the local economy.

Changing the path of future economic activity will require interventions to achieve a different industry, occupational, and skill mix in the longer term. Strategies to address these issues are dealt with through the linked SmartEconomy (Sub-regional Economic Development) Strategy.

Transport

Transport is the most significant infrastructure issue, given its large public and private costs, environmental effects, and influence on urban form. Development of the road network has a close relationship to future land-use patterns, and they need to be planned in a co-ordinated manner.

Transport planning at the sub-regional level is now strongly influenced by the Land Transport Management Act 2003, which emphasises a sus tainable and integrated strategy.

This includes public transport (mostly bus), cycling and walking in addition to road/car-based transport.

The SmartGrowth Strategy recognises that:

• Development of the Strategic Road Network serves as a base assumption. The rationale is that there are few alternative corridors available, so the issue is more one of timing and design than location.
• Public transport, walking and cycling are promoted through urban design, with specific targets set for commuter trips by modes other than private vehicles.
• Road networks within the broader region are improved to match the impact of growth.
• While rail is likely to remain principally for freight, opportunities should be taken as they arise to secure a wider rail corridor to accommodate both freight and passenger services in the future.

The land transport section of the SmartGrowth Strategy will be a significant sub-regional component of the Regional Land Transport Strategy (RLTS).

Open space and leisure

The availability of high-quality open space and arts and leisure opportunities are key indicators of the quality of life that a community enjoys. Planning for future provision is organised under a number of themes, including:

Active Communities - by providing a range of facilities, including the new aquatic centre, indoor exhibition space and a network of quality indoor sport facilities.

Culture and Heritage - by protecting reserves with cultural significance and development of the Tauranga museum.

Creative Expression - covering a range of suggested facilities and programmes for the arts, including Tauranga Art Gallery.

Water Recreation - by studying trends in recreational use of the Tauranga Harbour and actions to protect the quality of life of the marine environment.

Open Space - by protection of (and access to) a broad range of parks, reserves and open spaces. The Regional Parks Policy helps to establish the amount of land needed for larger parks and reserves, including cultural heritage, passive harbour, passive coastal, rural wilderness and active rural functions. Providing high-quality space in neighbourhoods and more developed areas (including facilities for walking and cycling) will be important. Open space can also be used to help manage urban form. Securing land through purchasing areas for future-use open space or leisure opportunities is a key to ensuring this happens. Significant purchase of ecological and leisure corridors will also help define urban boundaries.