WVA rejects reserve land vesting bid

Taupo Times, Volume 23, Issue 53, 4 July 1974, Page 3

WVA rejects reserve land vesting bid

- A request by the Taupo County Council to have a 72-acre block adjacent to Turangi township vested in the Lake Taupo Reserve Board has been rejected by the Waikato Valley Authority. The land lies between Turangi and the Tongariro River downstream of the State highway and has recently been gazetted Crown land. The Taupo County's engineer, Mr J. W. Bull, said in a letter received at the WVA meeting last week that he had been told the original gazetting had been made on the understanding that the land ' would be vested for control ai?#l maintenance jointly in the Taupo county and the

Department of Internal Affairs. In view of the noxious weeds on the property it was better if it was not vested in the council in any way, he said. He asked the authority to vest it in the ^Lake Taupo Reserves Board. "I feel sure the council could well be embarrassed in pursuing its noxious weeds programme if land under its control would seem to be infested, as the requirements of fisheries dictate that the noxious weeds remain." WVA engineer, Mr H. C. C. Jones, said the land was not suitable for town development and he was "somewhat sufprised" at the thought of the county council in vesting it in the

reserves board. Hamilton's mayor, Mr M. J. Minogue, said: "It appears to be a vital area of conservation and other purposes and should be under the control of a defined local body for a definite purpose. The terms on which it is vested are crucial." Mr J. M. Somerville said: "I'm amazed the county council is trying to shelve responsibility for this."' Mr J. B. Thomas said he was "iffy" about the joint vesting. The meeting agreed to adopt the recommendation of the WVA engineer that the land be vested jointly with the department and the council.