Frustration spills over about a lack of answers for Mt Maunganui businesses

It's hoped the road to recovery for Mount Maunganui businesses becomes clearer, as Tauranga City Council (TCC) and local leaders work to repair the damage from recent severe weather and landslides.

Following a meeting with local businesses, officials acknowledged that while the physical work is complex, the communication with local shop owners needs to be significantly better.

A need for clearer communication:

For many businesses along the Mount strip, the last few months have been a "holding pattern" defined by uncertainty. 

On the 22nd of January, six people died in a landslide at Mauao. Since then, the iconic site has been shut.

Jo Veale, Chairperson of the local business association Mount Mainstreet, noted that while the council has been working "furiously" behind the scenes, the lack of a formal recovery document has fueled frustration within the community.

"The communication processes out to both local businesses, the community, and the wider Tauranga City have not been as strong as they could be," Veale said. She added that the practical implications for those in the "cordon area" include mounting costs, lease concerns, and worries regarding staff wellness.

The path to reopening Mauao:

To address these concerns, a community meeting was held this week to foster dialogue between TCC and locals. 

Speaking afterwards, Tauranga Mayor Mahe Drysdale admitted that the council hasn’t always had the answers the community was looking for, but promised a more upfront approach moving forward.

"The challenge we’ve had is we haven't had a lot of information to share," Drysdale recalled, referring to the ongoing geotechnical assessments. He confirmed that there are currently 42 slips on the mountain, including 12 that require expert remediation.

Despite the lack of a specific opening date, Drysdale believed there was hope.

"I can tell them it’s probably months, I can tell them that it is going to open, but there’s still a lot of uncertainty there." 

Physical repairs to begin

The council expects contractors to begin physical remediation, including the clearing of slips and a large tomo (sinkhole) on the 4WD track, within the next two weeks. Additionally, the 'red sticker' is expected to be removed from the Surf Club shortly.

And while Mauao remains a work in progress, Veale reminds visitors that the rest of the Mount is still very much open for business.