COUNTY TO APPEAL ON LAND MOVE

Taupo Times, Volume 23, Issue 55, 11 July 1974, Page 1

COUNTY TO APPEAL ON LAND MOVE

The Taupo County Council is to appeal to the Town and Country Planning Appeal Board against the proposed takeover of 27,000 acres of land on the county's southern boundary.

The Government wants the land for defence purposes. Ten landowners would be affected by the takeover, but the council is the only authority that can appeal. It has waited two years for an official explanation as to why the Government wants the land, but there has been no reply. After discussing the matter in committee this week the council voted to proceed with an appeal. It plans to do so in the public interest. The councillors believe the land concerned should be added to the Tongariro National Park or the Kaimanawa Forest Park. Located on either side of the Desert Road, the 27,000 acres adjoins both parks. To the south it meets the army's existing 125,000acre Waiouru training area. Part of the area the

Government wants contains the access track to the Tukino Mountain Village on the slopes of Mt Ruapehu. On the eastern side of the Desert Road land in the Taupo county carries the Waipahihi Stream and walking track into the Kaimanawa Forest Park. Council is concerned that access tracks may be lost to the public if the land is acquired under the Town and Country Planning Act. Most of the requisition area is either Maori or Crown land. The council was first notified of the requirement early in 1972 by the then Minister- of Works, Mr Allen. It has been waiting since for a fuller explanation from the Crown.