Councillors decided in 2024 to consider scaled-back options<\/a> costing between $80m and $105m.<\/p>\n The agenda for Tuesday\u2019s meeting estimated the cost at $81m over four years.<\/p>\n The revised concept focused on core services, including lane swimming, aquatic sports, learn-to-swim programmes, hydrotherapy and recreational use.<\/p>\n Deputy Mayor and Mount Maunganui ward councillor Jen Scoular raised concerns about demolishing the existing Memorial Park pool, which closed permanently at Easter<\/a>.<\/p>\n She said the pools functioned as a living memorial to soldiers who fought in World War II.<\/p>\n Staff said there were opportunities to incorporate that history into the new development.<\/p>\n Scoular suggested it should recognise veterans of all conflicts involving New Zealand.<\/p>\n Councillors agreed to allocate $4m funding for decommissioning the existing pool, and detailed design and consenting of the new facility.<\/p>\n They said the demolition was subject to acknowledgment the detailed design would include a connection to the living memorial in the existing pool, extended to include all veterans.<\/p>\n The council would revisit the design, costs and long-term funding implications in September as part of wider long-term plan discussions.<\/p>\n Baypark sports hub<\/p>\n Councillors also agreed to move ahead with plans to expand the Baypark arena into a larger sports hub<\/a>.<\/p>\n This included relocating Tauranga Netball<\/a> from Blake Park to a new multisport centre at Baypark, alongside upgrades to site access, parking and wider infrastructure.<\/p>\n The netball facility alone is now estimated to cost $15.56m (up from $15.35m in July), with an additional $3.8m set aside for risk and contingency.<\/p>\n The TECT Community Fund had agreed to contribute $2m towards the project.<\/p>\n Staff said higher costs reflected more detailed design work and better understanding of site conditions, including ground stability, infrastructure requirements and construction methods.<\/p>\n Councillors said cost increases needed to be better justified.<\/p>\n Mayor Mah\u00e9 Drysdale said he was \u201cannoyed\u201d by the cost of a proposed toilet block.<\/p>\n The block, with two accessibility toilets and two regular toilets, was priced at $350,000. <\/p>\n \u201cPay me $350,000 and I\u2019ll build you four toilets, and I\u2019ll have a very nice profit on the back of it as well,\u201d Drysdale said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re talking about being tight on budgets \u2026 yet we\u2019re just throwing money away.\u201d<\/p>\n Drysdale said the cost estimate undermined his confidence in the wider project budget.<\/p>\n \u201cThat leads to a massive loss of trust for me. What else can we cut out here? What are we wasting money on?\u201d<\/p>\n Councillors asked staff to find savings without reducing the scope of the projects.<\/p>\n Staff said costs could be refined further as designs progressed, but warned significant savings might require scope changes.<\/p>\n Councillors requested updated budgets and more detailed financial modelling before committing to final figures.<\/p>\n Badminton funding<\/p>\n Councillors also debated funding for a new $16m Badminton Multisport Centre<\/a> at Tatua Reserve \u2013 land the council allocated in 2020<\/a>.<\/p>\n The council decided to stick with its previously committed $5m contribution, despite calls to increase funding to help get the project built sooner.<\/p>\n Staff warned that without additional funding, the project could be delayed for years, or might not go ahead at all.<\/p>\n A proposal to increase funding to $6m failed after a tied vote.<\/p>\n Scoular said they could not commit more funding without understanding the financial impact.<\/p>\n More details of the council\u2019s contribution will be decided at a later meeting.<\/p>\n Balancing priorities<\/p>\n Matua-\u014ct\u016bmoetai ward councillor Glen Crowther said the council needed to balance investment across different sports.<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t want to make it inequitable that you\u2019re catering well for swimmers and not for badminton, or for netball.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a really tough balancing act.\u201d<\/p>\n P\u0101p\u0101moa ward councillor Steve Morris said the upcoming long-term plan discussions would be critical.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s hard to get the balance right when you don\u2019t have the full picture in front of you.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are under an incredible amount of pressure budget-wise.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite the concerns, councillors broadly supported the direction of the projects, saying new facilities were needed to keep pace with growth.<\/p>\n \u2013 LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.<\/p>\nMemorial Pool closed for good at Easter. Photo \/ Tauranga City Council<\/p>\n
Tauranga Deputy Mayor Jen Scoular raised concerns about demolishing the existing Memorial Park pool. Photo \/ David Hall<\/p>\n
An overview of the court layout at the planned netball multisport centre at Baypark Tauranga. Image \/ Tauranga City Council<\/p>\n
A render of the badminton and multisport community centre in Mount Maunganui, which will include two full-sized indoor courts and eight badminton courts. Photo \/ TECT<\/p>\n
\u014ct\u016bmoetai ward councillor Glen Crowther said the council needed to balance investment across different sports. Photo \/ David Hall<\/p>\n
P\u0101p\u0101moa ward councillor Steve Morris says it’s “hard to get the balance right when you don\u2019t have the full picture in front of you”. Photo \/ David Hall<\/p>\n