Details of a $45 million government-funded project to futureproof Cameron Road are being shared with the community, so they can help finalise the plan which will help transform the Te Papa Peninsula into a thriving, connected centre.
Cameron Road is one of the city’s busiest roads, connecting people in Tauranga’s southern suburbs to the city centre. At present, more than one million bus passengers travel along Cameron Road each year, and 60 percent of all bus connections in Tauranga pass through Cameron Road.
Tauranga is growing fast and by 2063 our population is projected to have increased by almost 80,000. Tauranga City Council infrastructure general manager, Nic Johansson, says Cameron Road is one of the city’s main arteries, and we have an opportunity to get ahead of the growth by incorporating more transport options now, before the road is clogged with congestion.
“This multi-stage project will help address this growth, revitalise a key part of our city, and provide more transport options so people don’t have to be so car dependant, all things the community has said they would like.”
The project aims to make this key route safer, more attractive, and provide more ways to move by giving people greater choice about whether to walk, cycle, scooter, catch a bus or drive. Changes will include new part-time bus lanes, a new two-way cycleway, and improvements to make the area more walkable, attractive and community friendly. This includes native plantings that reflect the history of the area and attract bird life, spaces for the community to spend time in, and room for businesses to have more interaction with the street including outdoor dining areas for example. Existing traffic lanes will be retained.
“Through consultation on the Te Papa Spatial Plan, the community have said they want safe open spaces, tree lined streets, pedestrian-friendly, walkable neighbourhoods, and more housing and transport choice. One of the first steps towards creating this future will be along Cameron Road,” explained Johansson.
Futureproofing Cameron Road also aligns with the government’s goals of supporting growth, safety, alternate transport choices and creating attractive public spaces for the community.
“The grant we have received from central government to support local economic recovery from Covid-19 is a great opportunity for us to improve our city without ratepayers bearing the full cost of this significant project.”
Stage One of ‘Futureproofing Cameron Road’ will run from Harington Street in the CBD down to 17th Ave beside Tauranga Hospital. Stage Two aims to transform the length of Cameron Road from the hospital to Barkes Corner. There is also potential to extend this to Tauriko, which will unlock the full benefits of the changes and support other cycleway and bus network improvements planned for the future.
Since 2018 Council has been working with a group of local residents and business representatives from the Stage One stretch of Cameron Road as well as a range of stakeholder groups to get their input into early designs, and will continue to work alongside them as plans are firmed up.
Council would now like input from the wider community through the next design and development phases. Community events (pending COVID-19 Alert Levels) are planned so the community can share their thoughts.
| When |
Where |
| Monday 22 March, 7am until 7pm |
Tauranga City Council offices
(306 Cameron Road) |
| Tuesday 23 March, 12pm until 6pm |
PAKn’SAVE Tauranga car park |
| Thursday 25 March, 12pm until 6pm |
Tauranga Baptist Church
(beside Countdown) |
| Saturday 27 March, 7.15am until 12 noon |
Tauranga Farmers’ Market |
Detailed design for Stage One will be completed in July 2021. In preparation for main construction to commence in September, some enabling works and trial road layout changes will start in late April 2021.
Council and the government have confirmed certain aspects of the project (such as the two-way cycleway, part-time bus lanes, and retention of existing traffic lanes) must be included. However, community feedback is being sought on a range of other elements.
“We are looking forward to finalising the design with the public’s help and realising the benefits of this this significant project for our community.”
The community can provide feedback in person at open days, online at www.tauranga.govt.nz/cameronroad by email to cameron@tauranga.govt.nz or by calling Council on 07 577 7000.
Supporting images:
Map of proposed changes
Artists impression showing what the changes could look like
Statistics infographic