Friday 19 August 2016
The Weekend Sun
12
D-Day approaching for council build decision Tauranga City councillors will decide if they are going to commit the city to building a new council administration block on September 6. Deliberations on Creating Tauranga’s Civic Heart were originally scheduled for August 9, 2016, but were postponed to allow councillors more preparation time for the next phase of deliberations. The September 6 meeting begins 9am. If approved, adoption of the audited amendment to the Long Term Plan 2015-2025 is scheduled for September 29, 2016. The postponement is due to the number and quality of submissions, says Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby. Overall there is general support from the
electorate for the council to take action and build a new administration building, says Stuart. There’s also strong support for some of the other facilities, the upgraded library, a possible museum and the performing arts centre. And a variation of themes for the open space as well. “A lot of the thrust was: ‘Yes, do something. Look at the priorities, funding opportunities, and look at the delivery opportunities’. And they are all excellent questions to pose to the council,” says Stuart. “A lot of: ‘Yes, but’. Or yes answers with caveats on it. ‘Yes we like it, but.’ And that’s fine. “That’s exactly what we wanted from the submissions. I know myself, and I know I can talk for the elected members, we have been very happy with the response. “The challenge now is what do we do to move forward? It will be an interesting debate.”
Government delivering better broadband to more Kiwis
Fixed village fee
FOR LIFE
Having access to quality internet is a vital part of modern life. It is something we have come to expect.
2-bedroom villa floor plan sample
BRIDGES
FROM THE BEEHIVE With MP Simon Bridges
The future of coastal retirement living is SELLING QUICKLY Your chance to view our newly completed Sand Dune Lane villas, built to our latest design standards. These 2-bedroom, tastefully designed villas feature comfortable open plan living, and come future proofed with energy efficient solutions that can provide you with savings on hot water and power bills. With prices starting from just $390,000* it’s no wonder there’s already enormous interest! To get a taste of the standard of living you’ll quickly get used to, call to view our show home villa.
SHOW HOME VILLA Call to view Contact Janie on 07 542 1933 or email janieh@metlifecare.co.nz
RAD1373
*Prices are for an Occupation Right Agreement secured by a first ranking mortgage in favour of the statutory supervisor on behalf of the residents.
2 Te Okuroa Drive, Papamoa metlifecare.co.nz
Papamoa Beach VILLAGE
It makes our personal lives more efficient and convenient, gives businesses immediate access to global audiences, and provides better learning opportunities for our children. It’s important New Zealanders are given the best chance to lead successful lives, which is why National is delivering improved internet connectivity to 97.8 per cent of New Zealanders by 2019. Here in Tauranga, our urban Ultra-Fast Broadband network is complete, and has a 32.1 per cent up-take, which is one of the highest in the country. Tauranga’s UFB rollout was completed earlier this year and was a huge milestone for the city. All schools and hospitals can now connect to highspeed broadband. This gives teachers and hospital staff across the country access to vital information and services, and revolutionises students’ learning experiences with digital resources. Also, with all of the new growth in the city, we can keep up with high demands for faster internet, in-creasing productivity. Benefits of UFB include enjoying a wide range of entertainment options, improvement in business productivity and better online learning. Nineteen towns or cities now have a fully complete Ultra-Fast Broadband build and 2.4 million Kiwis are able to connect to Ultra-Fast Broadband. These are some of the biggest infrastructure projects undertaken in NZ, and they are already bringing huge social, economic and community benefits to New Zealanders. Not only are a growing number of Tauranga residents connecting, the speeds people are enjoying are also constantly increasing. This places not only people in Tauranga, but everyone in NZ in a great position to drive forward into the digital economy as businesses are given a competitive edge and become more efficient. Local organisations are also reaping the benefits, and are finding it easier to connect with their communities and organise local events. It’s great to see how improved connectivity is transforming our way of life for the better. And I look forward to seeing the Government’s broadband programmes continue to deliver great benefits to New Zealanders.