What will the upgrade provide?
The upgrade includes changes to the streets surrounding the Thirty Eight Elizabeth development, including Elizabeth Street, Elizabeth Lane, Devonport Road and First Ave.
A significant portion of the project has now been delivered, including:
- Upgraded intersections and new pedestrian crossings on Devonport Road, First Avenue and Elizabeth Street
- Street lighting and landscaping
- Water and wastewater infrastructure upgrades
- Installation of state-of-the-art stormwater treatment units to protect our harbour
The first half of the linear park, between Devonport Road and the entrance to the new Farmers, is complete.
Additional work is underway to complete this project, including:
- The second stage from the pedestrian crossing to Grey Street will get underway once the crane and scaffolding on the Thirty-Eight Elizabeth development have been removed. The remaining streetscape works are projected to be finished in early 2024.
- The Laneway between Elizabeth Street Carpark and The Farmers Building will be upgraded to include: trees, landscaping, new paving and seating. See the developed design here: Elizabeth Street laneway upgrade – developed design September 2020 (8.5mb pdf)
- This project will link in with the Tunks Reserve and Elizabeth Street East project, with a linear park extending Elizabeth Street down to the harbour’s edge.
Elizabeth Street upgrade – developed design August 2020 (10mb pdf)
Why is Council upgrading Elizabeth Street?
The Thirty Eight Elizabeth development will bring a significant anchor store back to the area, as well as hundreds of new residents.
Council is investing in the streetscape, in partnership with Farmers, with the area in front of the development on Elizabeth Street and the adjacent laneway between First Avenue and Elizabeth Street being the main focuses for the upgrade.
The upgrade aims to create an attractive, people-focused environment which will complement the Thirty Eight Elizabeth development and also contribute to the revitalisation of Tauranga’s city centre. The Elizabeth Street upgrade is part of the city centre revitalisation approach. This project seeks to improve the amenity of the city centre in order to support and attract investment in residential development and attract new businesses to the city centre.