Bay of Plenty Times
  • Bay of Plenty Times home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Sport
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Residential property listings
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Sport

Locations

  • Coromandel & Hauraki
  • Katikati
  • Tauranga
  • Mount Maunganui
  • Pāpāmoa
  • Te Puke
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

Weather

  • Thames
  • Tauranga
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Bay of Plenty Times

Mount Maunganui Phoenix car park transformation to start next month

Carmen Hall
By Carmen Hall
Bay of Plenty Times·
8 Jun, 2018 11:00 PM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Construction on the Phoenix car park will start next month and is expected to finish in December. Photo/File

Construction on the Phoenix car park will start next month and is expected to finish in December. Photo/File

The old Phoenix car park in Mount Maunganui is expected to be transformed into a green space by December in time for the summer season, but not everyone is happy.

The controversial $2 million project met opposition from some local retailers and residents but was approved by Tauranga City Council in April last year.

Senior strategic adviser Fiona Nalder said about 70 per cent of the funding was from development contributions and renewal budgets with the remainder of costs being picked up by a rate-funded loan. Construction of the project would start next month.

Nalder said the new space would support the growing visitor and residential population by inviting people to stay longer in the Mount CBD, with local businesses enjoying the economic benefits through increased foot traffic.

''It will create a greater sense of belonging for our community by encouraging social interaction through a shared space to rest and play.''

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The park would have native plantings and trees, a grassed area and could be utilised for events, including markets, and was ''designed for people to enjoy'', she said.

Mount Maunganui/Papamoa ward councillor Leanne Brown said it had been a long journey and a ''leap of faith''.

There had been a lot of scepticism, but she was hoping it would be as successful as the Pilot Bay boardwalk when it was at the same stage.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

''I don't think anyone would disagree that it wasn't a good decision at the time. I don't think people will truly believe in it until it's finished and done and starts being utilised."

She acknowledged some people were concerned about parking, but the council was working on a plan.

Artastic Print Place owner Mark Rundell, who was a strong opponent of the green space, said since January his business was down significantly.

''I've lost thousands of dollars.''

Discover more

Stoush over Phoenix car park plans

18 Apr 09:24 PM

Outdoor dining experience planned for new Mount park

20 Mar 12:20 AM

More carparks for Mount Maunganui

26 Apr 10:46 PM

New Mount green space a haven for natives

09 May 06:07 AM

He was also aware of other businesses who had faced the same predicament.

In his view losing the car park was the wrong decision.

''The council will go boldly where no one else wants to go.''

Rundell said he would not be surprised if some businesses in the Mount folded as parking was still a major issue.

The features
* There will be grassed and planted areas, places for people to sit and relax, and areas suitable for use by events, including markets.
* A water feature is planned for space, providing visual interest and an opportunity to play.
* The private redevelopment at 113 Maunganui Rd will open on to the northern edge of the space, providing an increased activation and safety of the space.

The consultation process
* A survey at the beginning of 2017 with Mount Maunganui retailers that received 101 responses.
* 34 people supported the development of a green space, 35 wanted some car parking retained while 32 respondents thought it should remain a carpark.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Save

    Share this article

Latest from Bay of Plenty Times

Bay of Plenty Times

'He's just scared of me': Teen's Māori wards challenge to PM

06 Jul 03:55 AM
Bay of Plenty Times

Region's first learning hub for migrant parents a 'transformative step'

05 Jul 06:00 PM
Bay of Plenty Times

'God-given right': Family defends largely unconsented homestead on rural land

04 Jul 08:45 PM

There’s more to Hawai‘i than beaches and buffets – here’s how to see it differently

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Bay of Plenty Times

'He's just scared of me': Teen's Māori wards challenge to PM

'He's just scared of me': Teen's Māori wards challenge to PM

06 Jul 03:55 AM

Chris Hipkins agreed to meet him in Wellington after the Prime Minister said 'no'.

Region's first learning hub for migrant parents a 'transformative step'

Region's first learning hub for migrant parents a 'transformative step'

05 Jul 06:00 PM
'God-given right': Family defends largely unconsented homestead on rural land

'God-given right': Family defends largely unconsented homestead on rural land

04 Jul 08:45 PM
'I'm proud of you': Sister's final message before fatal crash

'I'm proud of you': Sister's final message before fatal crash

04 Jul 06:03 PM
From early mornings to easy living
sponsored

From early mornings to easy living

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Bay of Plenty Times e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Bay of Plenty Times
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP