Kiri Gillespie: Lakes community right to fight now for greater amenities

The Lakes has plenty going for it but locals would like more amenities. Photo / George Novak

OPINION:

Oh, how times change.

It wasn't that long ago I remember driving past the rolling green fields at the foot of the Kaimai Range.

Now, nestled between Pyes Pā and the beginnings of rural Western Bay of Plenty, an entire community has appeared. The Lakes comes complete with a school, mall, local business estate, supermarket, playgrounds, and reserves. Even a man-made lake.

The growth of the suburb over the past decade is mindboggling.

But, according to many who call The Lakes or Tauriko "home", it's not perfect. Not yet.

Community groups have expressed their concerns about a lack of certain amenities and facilities. There's a worry some won't keep pace with families as children and parents age, or with the population as it continues to swell.

It's understandable. Despite a plethora of well-loved playgrounds and walking tracks, there's little on offer for anyone looking to play a game of rugby, shoot some hoops, or go for a blat on the skateboard. Such facilities are sought elsewhere, often on the other side of the ever-busy State Highway 29A.

Even on The Lakes' website, there are just four listings under services or amenities: The shopping village; parks and playgrounds; public transport; and the mobile library.

Tauranga City Council is now considering the plight of Lakes residents, who appealed for help during this year's Long-term Plan hearings.

It's an admirable effort that gives me pause for thought.

Sure, there are many suburbs out there already without certain amenities. My home suburb of Welcome Bay has been calling out for a supermarket for as long as I can remember. It would be easy to lump such requests as a nice-to-have but less important than other issues already facing the city. Particularly when the city faces a 15 per cent rates rise.

But Tauranga's council commissioners will sign off the Long-term Plan for the next 10 years later this month. So if not now, when?

Children enjoying the playgrounds of today will be unlikely to still find the same joy from the same park in a decade's time.

This is the time for change.

I take my hat off to The Lakes community for being so proactive, collective, and future-focused.

Not only have they foreseen a potential problem years down the track, they have offered through their council submissions possible solutions that won't cost ratepayers any extra.

As Lakes resident Nicholas Meloni puts it: "We believe in it, it's for everyone, and one day, it will be for our kids as well."

How refreshing. And a little bit sad too.

In my view, residents of a new suburb shouldn't have to lobby the council for amenities that should have ideally been part of the original development. I believe it would be short-sighted to ignore such requests from a young suburb that is still in the process of being developed.

After all, home is where the heart is. Houses on their own don't make a community. It's the community halls, the marae, the pools, the netball courts, or the pump tracks.

It's the sharing of recreational facilities that really bring people together.