Summary of the changes in the draft revised policy
Key policy changes we’re proposing
- Allowing council land to be provided for new kōhanga reo centres, in the same way council land may be provided for Playcentres, as they are also not-for-profit, parent/whānau-led centres and operate like community groups. This would be an exception to the general policy that council land is not for the purpose of providing early childcare education facilities.
- Amending the termination clause for community leases on reserves from the standard notice period of 2 years, to between 3 and 6 years maximum, so that it aligns with the Long-term Plan.
- Adding some additional sites and activities to be excluded from the scope of the policy, specifically:
- Airport land, as airport activities are governed by different legislation;
- TECT and Huharua Parks, as these are sub-regional parks co-managed with Western Bay of Plenty District Council;
- Leases to Bay Venues Limited, as the details of leases to this Council-Controlled Organisation are typically made through Council resolutions.
- Including a requirement to consider existing ratepaying businesses in the area when approving new commercial activities. This is in addition to the general requirement to assess activities against the policy principles, any relevant council plans, bylaws, strategies and policies, and any applicable statutory requirements.
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.