City campus plans praised

Bay of Plenty Polytechnic, University of Waikato and Te Wananga o Awanuiarangi joining for new tertiary campus. Andrew Coker, left and Tauranga mayor Stuart Crosby

A new tertiary education campus planned for downtown Tauranga is being lauded by the education and business worlds.

The Bay of Plenty Times yesterday revealed the Bay of Plenty Regional Council's intention to put $15 million towards the development of a tertiary education campus on Durham St with the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic, the University of Waikato and Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi. Funding will be conditional on TECT granting a further $15 million.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council chairman John Cronin said no other council had ever stepped up to make something so significant happen at virtually no cost to ratepayers.

"For Tauranga it is probably the biggest economic development in my history in local government."

Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby said the campus would raise living standards and stop young people leaving. He said a key element was that the courses would relate to the local economy and a lot of work was going in to ensuring what was taught would be relevant locally.

Otumoetai College principal Dave Randell and Tauranga Boys' College principal Robert Mangan said the joint campus would help keep young people in town, in turn helping with employment.

Bay of Plenty Polytechnic chief executive Dr Alan Hampton said the new campus would provide infrastructure and capabilities to make the region far more attractive to keep young people in Tauranga and also attract them here from other regions.

University of Waikato deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Alister Jones said although there would be a number of conditions laid out for the university, they were excited about the funding for the development.

Tauranga Chamber of Commerce chief executive Max Mason said young adults who stayed in the Bay to study rather than going somewhere else were this community's lifeline to the future.

"This decision took great political skill to pull together and congratulations are in order."

Priority One chief executive Andrew Coker said the development of a university campus and the tertiary education partnership would provide long-term benefits and play a critical role in supporting sustainable regional economic development.

Also in the pipeline is $5 million in funding from the regional council towards the development of a marine precinct at Sulphur Point, involving a boat lift and the construction of a sea wall and hardstand for the boats to stand in after being lifted from the harbour.