Transport and community facilities the big concerns for young Tauranga suburb

The Lakes, pictured here in 2018, has continued to grow. Photo / NZME

Transport and community facilities are key issues of concern for residents of one of Tauranga's newest suburbs.

The Lakes Community Association was formed following a public meeting in February that canvassed more than 100 local residents about whether they wanted a residential representative group ahead of this year's Tauranga City Council's Long-term Plan 2021-2031.

Nearly three months later, the group is holding another public meeting on Wednesday

at Taumata School with the council's commissioners and council staff to discuss the impact of the Long-term Plan - and ensure The Lakes is not overlooked.

Interim chairman Tony Gavin said the Long-term Plan was a main driver behind the creation of the association and the group expected to make a formal submission.

Gavin said since the association was formed, a Facebook page had been created, a database of residents was being developed and an online survey had already established the residents' main concerns - transport and community facilities.

"The Lakes suburb is one of the fastest-growing in Tauranga and with the adjacent Tauriko Industrial Estate forms a unique urban-industrial complex within the city," he said.

Gavin said he believed the proposed Tauriko West residential development, combined with The Lakes, would eventually form the largest residential-industrial complex in Tauranga. The association wanted to ensure the Long-term Plan took this into account.

Tauriko West is expected to add up to 4000 new homes by 2025. Last year, the Lakes was estimated to have 4586 people.

Council commission chairwoman Anne Tolley said it was not surprising transport and community facilities had surfaced as concerns.

Tauranga City Council commission chairwoman Anne Tolley plans to meet with a newly formed residents group at The Lakes. Photo / NZME

Tolley said residents had to travel into town and cross SH29 in order to get to most community facilities, such as tennis courts and rugby fields.

"They are feeling a bit of isolation from all the other activities available (to other suburbs)," she said.

Tolley would be joined by commissioners Bill Wasley, Stephen Selwood and Shadrach Rolleston and council staff at the meeting.

They were keen to work on community facilities but needed to have discussions with Waka Kotahi when it came to transport issues.

"That's ongoing but we want to assure people we are doing as much as we can to leverage as much money out of Waka Kotahi as we can."

The Long-term Plan, subject to community consultation, effectively underpins the next 10 years of spending and investment in the city's infrastructure, services and housing.

It proposes a 22 per cent rate increase as part of a proposal to spend $4.57 billion of mostly ratepayer money on key projects and services over the next 10 years. Transport is expected to reap $1.9bn of this and community spaces and places $672m.

Consultation on the plan began this month and runs until June 7.

* The Lakes Community Association meeting will be held at Taumata School, 145 Mortlake Heights, from 6.30pm on Wednesday.