MOTUTERE BAY DOMAIM

Taupo Times, Volume II, Issue 87, 18 September 1953, Page 1

MOTUTERE BAY DOMAIM

BOARDS FIRST MEETING

The f^st meeting of the East Taupo Domains Board was held in the Taupo Town Board Offices, Taupo, on Tuesday, September 8th at 11 a.m., as provided in the Order in Council appointing the Board. The Board was set up by the Government to control the camping area at Motutere Bay, where the increasing numbers of summer campers had in recent years made the problem of sanitation an urgent one. Pursuant to Section 44 of the Public Reserves and Domains Act 1928 the following were appointed by Order in Council to be the East Taupo Domains Board, to have control of an area at Motutere of some six and a half acres: The Commissioner of Crown Lands, South Auckland District, ex officio; the Resident Engineer, Ministry of Works, Rotorua; one Commissioner of the Taupo Town Board; Messrs. L. H. Cheal, J. D. Swan, and R. H. Ward, of Taupo. Members present were: — Messrs. N. J. Till, Commissioner of Crown Lands; J. A. Andrew, Ministry of Works; W. T. Irvine, Taupo Town Board; J. D. Swan, L. H. Cheal and R. H. Ward. Also present in an advisory capacity were Messrs. Lockie and J. E. Harris, Lands and Survey Department. An apology for absence was received from Mr S. A. McNamara, Conservator of Wild Life. Survey of Position. On arrival at the Town Board Offices members of the new Board were briefly welcomed by Mr J. E. Story, Town Board Chairman, who expressed his Board's pleasure that a move had been made to cope with camping problems on the Lake shore. Mr Till, Crown Lands Commissioner, gave members a survey of matters prior to the appointment of the Board, which had led to the fencing of portion of the camping area at Motutere, a few weeks before last Christmas, on instructions from Wellington, and the erection of sanitary conveniences, wash rooms, a caretaker's cottage, and the installation of a water supply system. For this water was pumped from the lake to a tank on high ground at the north end of the Bay giving a gravity flow to the camp. A caretaker had been appointed, and during the winter season he had been employed? by the Fisheries Division of the Internal Affairs Department. Mr Till stated, in reply to an enquiry, that it had been found impossible to secure the land comprising the Motutere Point, which belonged to Maori owners. The buildings had been erected on the area fenced between highway and Lake, owing to the danger from motor traffic that would have arisen had they been sited on land across the highway. The latter area, from which gravel for tar sealing had been taken, would be available for use later, when these operations were completed, and would be levelled by the Ministry of Works. A plan of the Domain area was shown, and Mr Till explained that the narrow strip north of the fenced area, between the highway and the beach, was included in the Domain. It was ideally suitable for camping, was adjacent to the conveniences erected, and had not been fenced as to do so would have entailed undue waste of camping L(Continued on Page 2);

MOTUTERE BAY DOMAIN

(Continued from Page 1) space, by making it necessary to clear a motor track inside the fence. There was a considerable atea on the opposite side of the highway from this sorthern portion of the Domain, where* roadmen's cottages had formerly stood, and this area would later be available for the use of campers. Appointment of Chairman. Following his introductory remarks, Mr Till called on members to elect a chairman. Mr Swan expressed the opinion that at this stage in the Board's history it would be fitting and in the best interests of the Board if the Commissioner of Crows Lands were appointed Chairman. He moved accordingly, seconded by Mr Cheal, the motion being carried unanimously. On taking the ehair, Mr Till brought up the matter of a secretary and treasurer, and after discussion it was decided that the office be a combined one. With the concurrence of the Commissioner it was agreed that these duties should meantime be carried out by an of- , ficer of the Lands and Survey Department. For the present this officer will be Mr J. E. flarris (Hamilton Office). It was decided that for the next six months meetings would be held monthly on the third Tuesday in each month, in the Taupo Town Board Offices. The next meeting will be on October 20th. Camping Fees and Finance. The Chairman gave information as to camping fees collected during the period last summer when the camp was operating, which indicated that these had been insufficient to cover the caretaker's wages, and mentioned that only experience could show what the revenue might be. After discussion it was decided that camping charges as from October lst next be five shillings per site per day or thirty shillings per week. The matter Of sites being reserved in advance was discussed, and it was deecided that sites might be booked for a minimum period of one week, with a deposit of the rent for that period, and for a maximum period of four weeks, with a deposit equal to half the rent for the period booked. It was decided that there be no refunds of deposits if bookings were not ahered to. Unoccupied Caravans. The Chairman reported that in the past a number of campers had been in the habit of leaving caravans, and huts built on skids, permanently on the camping area. Notice had been given to owners that these must be removed from the camp. The Chairman pointed out that in view of the area being a public domain it would not be in the public interest to allow picked sites to become premanently occupied by particular individuals. After discussion, it was decided that for the convenience of owners of caravans they be permitted to park them, when not in use, on an area on the opposite side of the highway at a weekly charge of 5/-, which the caretaker was authorised to collect. It was to be made clear to owners that neither the Board nor the caretaker would accept responsibility for damage to caravans so parked. » It was decided that the present off-season retainer being paid to the caretaker by the Lands and Survey Department be paid by the Board up to October 18th, and that as from October 19th he be placed on full pay of £12 per week, less £1 per week rental of cottage. The matter of allowing a store or canteen to be operated in the camp area for the convenience of campers was discussed, and it was decided to defer consideration of

such trading rights to the October meeting. It was decided to invite the Automobile Association to send a representative to the next meeting of the Board. On the Chairman's suggestion, it was decided that the four Taupo members of the Board be appointed a sub-committee to deal with urgent matters, with power to act and report back to the next meeting. The meeting closed at 2.30 p.m. with a vote of thanks to the Taupo Town Board for making its offices available. Following the meeting members proceeded to Motutere, and made an inspection of the camping ground and adjacent areas. It was found that since last season a considerable amount of clearing of blackberry and other weeds had been done by the caretaker.