Motel At Wharewaka Point Approved By Council

Taupo Times, Volume XIV, Issue 56, 20 July 1965, Page 10

Motel At Wharewaka Point Approved By Council

A11 application for the conditional use of a lower storey of an existing house at Wharewaka Point, and an extenpion thereto as a six-nnit motel was approved hy TaupiO County Council last week. Conditions were imposed. The application was made by Mr Gordon Gillies, represented by Mr J. D. L. Corry, and opposed by 1B

property owners in the area, represented by Mr D. B. Heatley. The site under consideration is directly opposite that of an existing motel. The main objections submitted by Mr Heatley to the council were that the proposal would detract from the area which was becoming increasingly residential; would create a traffic hazard, and was not in the public interest. Objectors, he said, considered that the land in the immediate vicinity would lose its attraction and value. The existing motel had been built prior to any residences being built there. If another were ap-

proved, it should be at the opposite end of the settlement. Mr Heatley maintained that sufficient motel accommodation in the area already exi/sted and suggested that there were already sufficient motels in Taupo to meet public demand. He also submitted that the land on which it was proposed to make the extensions was unsuitable be-

cause of its access, which was by a steep drive. There were more favourable sites if it were felt that another motel was justified. Mr Corry refuted the objections. All were on the same grounds and appeared to be well organised. It| appeared to him, however, j that one of the objectors, the owner of the existing motel, was a "strange bedfellow" with the owners of the residential sections. Only two sections were occupied in the near vicinity and only four were occupied by permanent residents. It was mainly a holiday area and. the suggested motel would lead to the enjoyment of the area and be in the public interest. The land itself wa^ not unsuitable and if any conditions imposed could be complied with, he thought the application should be approved. Access could be improved and an exit from the property at the opposite end could be provided. Visi-j bility from the access drive could also be improved. After applicant, objectors and counsel had j retired, Cr U. R. Mac- | Donald said the council had to face up to the opening of Taupo' s new airport. He considered there would be a growihg

demand for motel accommodation right down to Waitahanui. He looked upon the application as a "test case". Motels would provide more amenities for holiday people and they would be the best land use where there were no valid objections. He thought the applica- j tion should be granted andj provision made in future i subdivisions for motels.

Cr R. B. Dick submitted that the section was not [ really suitable and two j motels opposite was not a practical proposition. The county engineer, Mr G. B. Burton, said hej thought council should ap-j prove the application sub-j ject to visibility of the! drive being improved; that bank stabilisation work toi be the responsibility of ap-i plicant; that a southern exit be provided and that either j there be no canteen per- j mitted or, if one were, it should be for the use of the j motel occupants only. This was put as a motion hy Cr MacDonald and adopted.