Combined Yacht Club And Youth Hall Is Suggested

Taupo Times, Volume XIV, Issue 69, 2 September 1965, Page 1

Combined Yacht Club And Youth Hall Is Suggested

The executive of the Taupo Chamber of Commerce is not in favour of the proposed Taupo Youth Centre being built on a site near the A.C. Baths and will suggest to the Taupo Borough Council that it be sited in a more central position.

The Chamber considers that there is a need for the centre — which could be used also for conferences, balls and other purposes.

Many Taupo residents have expressed similar views. Taupo, they hold, has its main attraction in Lake Taupo itself, and it is considered that this feature should be included in providing the public buildings required.

With two definite projects already under way — the building of a club house on the landing reserve by the Lake Taupo Yacht Club, and the proposed Youth Centre — and with the Chamber's expressed need for an adequate eonference hall, it is thought by many that the projects should be combined. This could provide for all requirements in the most economical mann^r and in the most desirable setting. Alone, the Taupo Yacht Club's project is expected to cost £10,500, and the Youth Centre, £35,000.

Together, all needs could be catered for, including that of a eonference hall, with better application of the large sums of money involved. ® Such a building, if it were erected on the site already allocated to the yacht club, would have a magnificent outlook and the yacht club's requirements could be met by providing facilities for them on the lower level. The club w ould also be able to use the building's other amenities. A local artist has given ber impressions of what could be done to meet the various interests in Taupo in the sketch below. Its size would dep-end on the uses it was to be put to and the funds available. It shows the lower part, and just above lake level, the tower which could be used by yachtsmen and a higher level floor which could cater for all other requirements. Big glass doors open onto a verandah Which could be used for dancing, morning and afternoon teas and as an observation platform for people viewing the lake and activity on it. Therein would lie the attraction of siting a building for all purposes on the lake's edge, and it would he in the centre of activity, adjaeent to the bowling clubs, the boat harbour, the domain and the shopping centre. • If such a suggestion were given further consideration, it would need to be with the eo-operation of the Taupo Yacht Club, which has already been allocated the site which would be suitable for the combined purpose.

M. Hampson, has pointed out that plans for building the yacht club premises were already well advanced. The club had an obligation to the many people who had already subscribed to the project to go ahead with it as planned. The cost would be reduced by about £1500 by donations from member tradesmen, he added. Mr Hampson said he would ask the club to consider an alternative if he were requested to do so, but he emphasised that such a move would have to be made quickly. The club wanted its facilities and they were now in sight, he concluded. Asked for his ©piiiion on a combined scheme, the Mayor of. Taupo, Mr J. E. Story, said it was a matter worth having a good look at. "The idea comes as a bit of a'surprise, but I am sure that if the public and the organisations concerned got together, something along those lines could be achieved," Mr Story said. He added, however, that the whole thing would depend on the co-operation the yacht club would he prepared to give.