30,000 new homes needed

An estimated 30,000 new homes will be built in Tauranga by 2041 to deal with a predicted population explosion, a council report reveals.

The population of about 120,000 people is expected to jump 45 per cent to an estimated 175,000, according to SmartGrowth data.

The information was included in the Tauranga Transport Strategy, presented to and adopted by the city council yesterday.

Many of the new homes would be built in Papamoa, Pyes Pa, Welcome Bay and Ohauiti, Pukemapu and traditionally popular suburbs such as Mount Maunganui.

Council infrastructure planning team leader Philip King, who presented the transport strategy to councillors, said forecasted housing and commercial growth would result in traffic congestion on key roads in the next 30 years.

The congestion would undermine access to the port, which played a big part on the region's economy, he said.

The strategy highlighted other roading issues associated with the predicted growth such as accidents, public transport use, rail and infrastructure management.

It included a long-term plan to increase the percentage of freight carried via rail to remove trucks from the roads, including a new rail bridge crossing from Tauranga to Mount Maunganui, offering fast access to the port.

The need for a dual-track rail corridor would be explored, along with electrification of the rail network, the strategy says.

The report highlights the possibility of exploring other transport options such as a city-wide ferry service and ways to encourage people to use other modes of transport besides private vehicles.

Mr King said Tauranga survey data suggested 98 per cent of all trips in Tauranga were in a private car, between 9 and 33 per cent higher than centres such as Hamilton and Christchurch.

8600 houses to be built in Pyes Pa, Welcome Bay and Ohauiti and Pukemapu.

"Council should ... where possible, minimise parking in new developments to support public transport, provide facilities on bus routes, and consider the proximity of new housing developments to bus stops," he said.

Mayor Stuart Crosby told the Bay of Plenty Times the transport strategy was one piece of work to future proof the city.

"This work was not done in the '70s and'80s ... We want to know what is predicted to happen so we will have time to intervene and stay ahead of the game and address the issues."

Mr Crosby said the council would have to consider public transport, roading and rail as the city grows.