Future planning for the southern Lake Taupo area gets underway

MEDIA RELEASE

17 February 2010

Last week Taupo District Councillors gave the ‘green light’ to its officers to begin developing a Structure Plan for parts of the Turangi-Tongariro Ward.

The Southern Structure Plan will look at the existing and future land requirements for urban growth around Turangi, Motuoapa, Omori-Kuratau and Whareroa. It will develop a vision for future growth in these areas and how the settlements may look as they evolve, in collaboration with residents and ratepayers, local businesses and major landowners (including Maori Land Trusts, Trustees and hapu).

Clr Don Ormsby, Chairman of the Turangi-Tongariro Community Board said “the local community has told the Community Board and Council that they want to move forward with the planning process in this area, especially with the East Taupo Arterial (ETA) due for completion within the next year. I’m delighted that Council has acted on this and has brought forward the development of the Structure Plan to develop a vision for Turangi Town Centre and the lakeshore settlements.”

Council will identify precise locations and forms of future urban growth consistent with the strategic objectives outlined in its Taupo District 2050 Growth Management Strategy. This will help to provide the communities and development sector with certainty regarding the future pattern of urbanisation within these settlements.  Revitalising the Central Business District, future infrastructure requirements and changes to the District Plan will also be considered as part of this process.

“The Structure Plan won’t lead to immediate changes, rather the aim is to enhance the character of the places people enjoy visiting or living in by developing a vision to guide future growth,” Cr Ormsby added.

Council officers will begin by talking with the relevant communities to discover their priorities, aspirations and visions for the future. It is expected that officers will meet with residents, businesses and stakeholders several times during the next few months as they begin to research and develop the Southern Structure Plan.

For more information about the proposed Southern Structure Plan, click here. 

Contact:
Gareth Green
Group Manager – Environmental Services
Taupo District Council
Ph 07 376 0654