Watchdogs: civic focus needed for Taupo growth

Taupo Times, Volume 23, Issue 54, 9 July 1974, Page 1

Watchdogs: civic focus needed for Taupo growth

n A need to provide a civic focus for a burgeoning city has been expressed by the president of the Lake Taupo Development and Protection Society, Mr P. M. Wilson. Architecturally, provision will be required in Taupo for up-dated civic facilities and sophisticated tavern/ restaurant entertainment, he said. He made these comments following a visit to Taupo last- week bv a group of Auckland architectural students. When the Taupo Chamber of Commerce deeidcd early ds^st vear to invite the

students to make a project of developing the cliff bank between the Lake Taupo Yaeht Club and Titiraupenga Street, the society stronglv opposed the move. But. after attending an i n for mai meeting held last week to discuss the students' plans, society representatives said some "very useful ideas" had emerged. Six schemes , were displayed and all endeavou red to separate vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Commereial and recreational uses of adjaeent areas were also clearlv defttied. "All schemes emphasised the need to preserve the reereational and park usage of the lake ffontage,"\ said Mr Wilson.

"But the provision of some public facility buildings — a town hall, senior eitizens' centre and kindergarten — is not seen as necessarilv contrary to sueh usage," The students emphasised that there was a rieed to preserve the present character of the town lakeshore while eonserving and enhaneing it. At the meeting with the Mayor, Mr C. S. Currie and the students draft ideas for the development of the cliff and foreshore area and the end of Tongariro Street were discussed. The eliff was seen as bo'th an attraetive and dangerous area. "Conserving it at the

same time as preserving its natural character is proving ' a diffieult engineering antf arehitectural problem," said Mr Wilson. Taupo's ' location on a major State highway with consequent through traffic; pedestrian and vehicular movement generated by a large commereial centre and4 its hinterland; and the present essential character of "the townf as a quiet, attraetive family holiday centre would all have to be balaneed into a harmonious ei\ie scheme. "As representatives of the society we were impressed by the students' concern for maintaining Taupo's tranquil environment. lakeside reserves and empathy with the lake." said Mr Wilson.