Summary of the changes in the draft revised policy
Key policy changes we’ve made:
- Council land may now be considered for the provision of new kohanga reo
- The two-year termination clause for community leases has been retained, but the Chief Executive may now consider exemptions from the termination clause where leaseholders have made or are intending to make substantial capital investment in buildings, infrastructure and/or other permanent improvements on the land, and the investment is site-specific with no reasonable alternative sites for relocation.
- Airport land, TECT Park and Huharua Park, and leases to Bay Venues Limited are now excluded from the scope of the policy
- Minor changes have been made to the definition of community gardens, cultural tour operators and public benefit.
Minor changes
- clarifying that maintenance and repair work on sports fields will be prioritised over bookings
- clarifying that relevant site-specific plans will also inform how sports field bookings are prioritised
- clarifying that some type of written approval from council is required for any commercial activity on council land
- requiring community gardens to have some type of written approval from council rather than specifying that a Licence to Occupy is required.
Drafting and formatting changes, including updates to definitions, have also been made to simplify the document and make it more user-friendly.
FAQs
What does the policy cover?
The Use of Council Land Policy covers how Tauranga City Council land can be used by the community, including private and commercial users.
It sets out the high-level outcomes that are sought from the use of council land as well as the principles that underpin how council will manage the use.
The policy outlines what types of activities and uses of council land need approval, the different approval types (such as bookings, licences/permits, leases and licences to occupy), and the general conditions and expectations that must be followed for each type. For some of the approval types, it also covers how prioritisation decisions will be made.
The policy supports a wide range of uses — such as events, markets, sports and recreation, and filming, as well as many other activities — to ensure council land is primarily for community use and benefit, supporting health and wellbeing, enhancing vibrancy and diversity, and protecting and promoting cultural and environmental values.
Who did we seek feedback from during initial stakeholder engagement?
We wanted to hear from groups, clubs, businesses, and organisations who have direct interest in the use of council land, including but not limited to: mana whenua, community groups, sports and recreation clubs, event organisers, market organisers, those with licences, leases or permits to use council land, as well environmental, heritage and industry groups and organisations.