Fast growing Tauranga population leads Church to buy land

Friday, May 6th, 2016

The fast growing Tauranga population has lead the Catholic church to buy land in Pyes Pa Rd in Tauranga.

The 1 hectare property is adjacent to St Thomas Aquinas College.

The purchase was announced at a meeting last Sunday at St Thomas Aquinas College.

The land will be jointly purchased by the Catholic Diocese of Hamilton and the parish, with a settlement date of August 31.

Parish priest Father Mark Field said the purchase was a unique opportunity.

“When the opportunity came up to purchase a parcel of land adjoining the boundary of our college, in an area with an increasing concentration of Catholic residents, it was simply too good to pass up.”

With Tauranga’s population projected to rise by 50 per cent over the next 25 years, the numbers of Catholics attending Mass could increase to at least 2000 each Sunday.

Field said the diocese had also bought land in Papamoa for a school and church, but this would not ease pressure on the Tauranga parish and school.

A site analysis and planning study will be carried out to determine the best use of the property to meet the future needs of the Catholic community, he said.

Need for another church

St Mary Immaculate Church in the city centre is the only large church on the western side of the city and is at capacity.

Need for another School

St Mary’s Catholic School in 13th Ave is expected to reach its maximum roll of 500 next year and further any development of the site is challenging.

Field said a second school in Tauranga would alleviate the pressure on enrolments at St Mary’s.

When asked whether 1ha would be enough land for a church and primary school, he said two-storey school buildings could be a more efficient use of the land.

Source