The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, DEC. 4, 1946 PLANNING OHOPE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 58, 4 December 1946, Page 4

The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, DEC. 4, 1946 PLANNING OHOPE

TIMELY action by the County Council has resulted in the first step towards orderly planning, of that steadily expanding seaside settlement, Ohope. Originally designed to serve the purpose of a somewhat limited resort, Ohope has surpassed the wildest dreams of its promoters, and today carries a standing population of 500-600 residents, which is swelled to three and four times that number during the holiday season. The single straight main road (Pohutukawa Avenue) is the only practical access route which would be needed for a fluctuating holiday resort, but the beach has become now the popular and permanent place of residence of numerous Whakatane businessmen, whilst there are many others merely awaiting the opportunity to build. Ohope is destined to become a fashionable and pleasing seaside suburb of Whakatane—and that, not in the very far distant

future. The question of planning its layout and of making it doubly attractive, is therefore a ‘highly important one at this juncture, before consolidation and intensive building takes place. It will be noted by readers that the suggestion from the Government officer in this connection, is that for prospective planning of such a settlement it is necessary to include an outer rural belt of from one to two miles. This point was raised in these columns two months ago, and would, if carried into effect mean the appropriation of a substantial strip of the Ngatiawa Native Scheme to provide for future development and expansion. Immediate difficulties are encountered in this respect, but they are not necessarily insurmountable, and indeed need not necessarily upset the programme of the scheme. The County Council however have shelved consideration of the whole matter until such time as the course of the new Main Highway through Wainui is confirmed. When this is fully determined they will then turn their attention to Ohope Beach’s development. Providing then that this important matter is not stuffed away in a forgotten pigeon-hole, we warmly agree.