Development Of Motuoapa As Tourist Resort?

Taupo Times, Volume VI, Issue 288, 15 August 1957, Page 4

Development Of Motuoapa As Tourist Resort?

IT is possible that as the result of a conference of Taupo County officials and the Motuoapa Domain Board, the Depart1 ment of Scientific and Industrial Research will be asked to investigate the hot-water resources at the domain, so that thermal baths may be introduced. There is a move to have the area vested in the county.

Last week ihe Taupo County Commissioner, Mr A. II. O'Keefe. the county treasurer, Mr G. O. Lafferty, and the Assistant Cominissioner of Orown Lands at Hamilton, Mr S. Brown. attended a meeting of the Motuoapa Domain Board, of which Mr F. Xeedham was the chairman. The board secretary, Mr J. Thorburn, also was present. Fn-liowing a discussion, the board "c -i "e ! t > r.sk the Lands and Survey : Lo paili e t t s have the domain vested j ia Ihe Taupo County, to lieip overj coiiie some of Ihe problems with flie j administralion oi i he domain. FINANCIAL PROBLEMS Oue of the problems is to get sufticient money to biTng the Motuoapa niotor-eamp up to the standards required under the Health Aet. Anotlier is that at ihe present time the Motuoapa Domain is divided irito two roughly equal parts of oue and almlf aeres eaeh, but separated by about

lialf a mile, and it may be necessary to aequire further land to re-site the domain. When the Times asked Mr O'Keefe about it, he sald that as I the domain stood, its potentiai ineome was strietly limited by the small area at present available. "In essenee, the problem is to see the aniount of eapital likely to be required to develop the domain area, which is too small for the eapital likely to be needed." Ilegarding tlie development of ther-mal-water resources in that area, Mr O'Keefe said the Motuoapa Domain Board had asked Taupo County to see if the Departinent of S.cientilie and Industrial Researoh would conduct experiments in the neighbonrhood, Ile agreed with the suggestion, and it was hoped that the Governinent vulcanologist at Rotorua, Mr J. Henley, would -begin his investigations in the 11001- future. BII) BY TOKAANU "If it wero possible to develop those resources, it would do imioli to popularise tlm domain at Motuoapa," he said. "As to the vesting of the land in the Taupo county, the proposal would, of course, have to he considered by tlie Minister of Lands for his approval." In the light of those proposals, it is interesting to quote in part a recent report in a Wellington newspaper, re garding development plans already approved by the Tokaanu Domain Board. which "are expected to have far-reach-ing effects on this Lake Taupo holiday resort," it says. The plans envisage full-scase development of 57 aeres of parkland to attraet the average New Zealaiider to Tokaanu, rather than ihe wealthy toiirist. "With this in mind," the report says, "the plans include a .large, fully-eqnip-ped carnp for motorists and travellers. Starting with improvements on the already attractive baths at Tokaanu, the board will develop a rec-reation park, eomplete with sports fields, a chihiren's recreation area, and a lake, over the next iive years, if the plans are approved by the Government." SUPPORT OF ELDERS It mentions that geysers in the thermal area include oue which may be turned on and off, and other features are coloured mineral springs, mudpools, and a full range of thermalarea attractions. "The developnient scheme lias the full support of the Mauri elders in the distriet," it continued. "A la-ter development is hoped to he the establishment of a small geoiogical museum, showing the minerals and thermal features of the area. "Much of the 57-acre site is flat, and a bulldozer has alreadjp prepared 21 aeres for lmrning and planting . . ."