Opinion: Welcome Bay has many fine points - and one big issue

Welcome Bay is a beautiful area, but the traffic congestion is a big negative. Photo / Sonya Bateson

I'm saying goodbye to Welcome Bay.

I've lived in the suburb for five years now and I've had enough.

Welcome Bay itself is a great place to live. It's a beautiful area of Tauranga - no matter where you live, you get great views of either the harbour or the Kaimais.

It has gorgeous parks and reserves - Tye Park has its harbour frontage, Waipuna Park its beautiful walnut trees, Johnson Reserve its meandering bush walks and mini waterfall.

The houses here are still fairly reasonably priced (although still far out of my price range) and haven't yet succumbed to the infilling seen elsewhere in the city.

But it also has a big negative - through no fault of its own.

The traffic.

I am sick and tired of spending so much time in my car travelling back and forth to work - up to 50 minutes each way for a 7.5km commute.

I currently have no way to get to work other than by car. The bus timetable doesn't suit my hours and the thought of biking along Welcome Bay Rd scares me - cars constantly cut corners by driving in the cycle lanes and I don't want to be hit by an inattentive driver.

What it all boils down to is wanting to have a life outside the office and the car.

At my new house, the office and supermarkets will be within walking distance and there's even a cafe close by if I want to pick up a coffee in the morning - what unbelievable luxury!

I'll miss Welcome Bay and the people that live there, I would have liked to stay.

But I'll be a healthier, happier person for my move and I can't wait.