Artist’s impressions supplied by Primary Health Care Limited.
Western Bay of Plenty District Council is seeking community views on a proposal to develop a new medical centre on a section of the Beach Road Recreation Reserve at Waihī Beach.
Primary Health Care Limited (PHCL) has asked Council to lease part of the reserve so it can build a new medical centre to meet the growing needs of the community. PHCL is a not-for-profit organisation and currently operates the Waihī Beach Medical Centre on Wilson Road.
Council agreed in principle to approve the application at its Projects and Monitoring Committee meeting on 15 August 2025, which would see 1137m2 of the reserve (around 30 per cent) reclassified to Local Purpose Reserve.
The new facility would include car parks, accessways and landscaping, while the rest of the reserve would remain as an open green space for public use.
Reclassifying the land would allow the medical facility to be located on the reserve, but it would not impact Council’s ownership of the land, which would remain protected by its reserve status.
The land would be leased for 17 years under a long-term ‘Community Impact Partnership Agreement’, with an option to renew for another 15 years. Under the Reserves Act 1977, leases are allowed for up to 33 years.
The community is invited to share their views on the proposal, with consultation open from today (28 November) until 8 February 2026. Feedback will then be shared with Councillors, to help guide a final decision in February/March 2026.
Those wanting to find out more are invited to a community drop-in session on Saturday, 13 December, at Te Ara Mātauranga - Waihī Beach Library and Service Centre, where representatives from PHCL and Council staff will be available to answer questions.
“The existing medical centre is privately-owned and unable to expand. It is no longer fit to keep up with what the community needs from its local health service,” says PHCL Deputy Chief Executive Batami Pundak.
“A new facility would help ensure people can get the care they need close to home, with more clinical rooms, improved urgent-care capacity, and space for visiting specialists. With extra room to train future GPs, we hope to attract more doctors to the area and better serve the Waihī Beach community.
“After several years of exploring alternative options, we have identified a partnership with Council as a viable way forward to build a new medical centre.”
Peter Watson, Council’s Reserves and Facilities Manager, encourages people to come along to the information session to learn more about the proposal, ask questions directly of Council and PHCL representatives, and share their views.
“We’ve extended the consultation period out to 10 weeks, so it spans the peak summer season when many homeowners and residents are in town. This is longer than usual, and we hope it will give everyone a real chance to get involved and share their thoughts.”
To find out more and to have your say about PHCL’s proposal to lease part of Beach Road Recreation Reserve for a new Waihī Beach Medical Centre visit: yourplace.westernbay.govt.nz/proposed-new-waihi-beach-medical-centre
