Turangi Shops To Be Open Early In New Year

Taupo Times, Volume XIV, Issue 56, 20 July 1965, Page 1

Turangi Shops To Be Open Early In New Year

The new shopping block at Turangi is expected to be open for business early in the New Year. This was announced on Thursday following a meeting of the successful applicants for business sites. Civil engineering work the sites, while not entirely up to schedule, will be completed by the time the shops are readg.

The chairman of the meeting, Mr A. W. Gibson, project engineer for the Tongariro power development seheme, had with him a panel of six, all expert in town planning and civil engineering problems. The Ministry of Works is to occupy Turangi until 1968 and then it is to become a county town. Because of this, the standards for shops, houses and other buildings there, has to be higher than generally

found in construction townships. Addressing the businessmen, Mr I. G. Dudding, chief town planning officer of the housing division of the Ministry of Works, Wellington, said: "We do not want to spoil the opportunity for original design by laying down rigid rules." "But the first view shoppers will get of the centre will be of the rear of the buildings. Unless the back walls are uniform ,the whole appearance will be rather tatty." # Mr Dudding went on to explain that the shopping centre will be landscaped and have fountains. "It should b'e pleasant for everyone," he said. Only pedestrian traffic will be permitted in the centre, and all goods delivery to the premises will be at the rear of the buildings. There is to be car parking faeilities for 350 cars and this can be extended if the need arises. "It is really up to the shopkeepers themselves to work out designs," said Mr Dudding. "But the standards will have to be reasonable or we (town planning) will have to determine those standards." The meeting, however, was unanimous in agreeing to the plans being made by the designs standards committee. "That unanimous vote demonstrates that co-opera-

tion is better than coercion," said Mr Gibson in thanking the businessmen for their agreement to the design standards committee doing the job. "There will be plenty of scope for individual design within the shops." There are to be some twostorey buildings and offices for solieitors, accountants and similar professions. It may be three weeks before the shopkeepers receive their plans. "It will take a fortnight to three weeks to bring out the plans," said Mr J. Brent, Lands and Survey Department. "Those plans will be accurate and will outline the standards and site " valuations." All four elevations will be prepared by the design standards buildings committee. The plans will be submitted to those allocated sites, who in turn will have to get county council permission to begin building. "The county will try to encourage individual design wMiin the overall framework," said Mr A. L. Gabites, the Taupo County Council town planning consultant. Before the meeting passed its unanimous vote, an adjournment of half an hour took place. During the adjournment, on the suggestion of Mr Gibson, four separate groups of businessmen were formed to discuss their needs. The shopping centre is divided roughly into four sections.