BOARD CHAIRMAN' REPLY

Taupo Times, Volume II, Issue 89, 2 October 1953, Page 5

BOARD CHAIRMAN' REPLY

Referring to the above letter from Mr McLeod, Mr J. E. Story writes:— >"1 am content to leave my reply to Mr McLeod's letter, which was published, wih his letter, in the Taupo "Times" of September 18th, to be judged by your readers. With regard to fees for building permits, the fees set out in the printed bylaws were those ftxed in 1940. Later the Town Board adopted the N.Z. Standard Code of Building By-laws prepared by the N.Z. Standards .

Institute (Department of Industries and Commerce), which have been adopted widely by local bodies throughout New Zealand. The fees charged are those set out in the Code. "Mr McLeod is correct in saying that the actual town plan now in the Board's office was received recently. He is quite wrong in suggesting that this is contrary to my statement that the town plan has been available at the Board's Office for eighteen months past. "The position is quite clear. The plan has been available to anyone wishing to see it, as I have stated. During the period that the scheme has been under preparation, however, alterations in some matters of detail have been made, and in consequence the actual plan has been sent to the planners in Wellington for amendment, being returned on each occasion within a short period. Even when the plan has thus been away for short periods, there has always been in the Board's Office a draft copy of the shopping and adjacent service industrial areas. "It is sureiy obvious to anyone that such temporary absences of the main plan, for alteration in the course of prepartion, would be unavoidable. I would point out again, that even the latest version of the plan is tentative only, for, as already explained several times, it will only be finalised after a period of three months, to be duly advertised, when Mr McLeod, in common with all others interested, will be able to examine it and to lodge objections to it, which will be duly heard and adjudicated upon. "In view of this fact I cannot understand Mr McLeod's statement that the town planning scheme is "hidden at the present time." The full report of it has been published in the Taupo "Times," and it has been repeatedly made clear that full opportunity for examination and objections will be given. The rateable value of the Town District was published in the Taupo 'Times' of February 4th, page 5, being shown in tlie revised Valuation Roll as £755,555 (Unimproved Value). This includes some reserves which are not rateable. The Capital value total is £2,000,800,"