CONTROL OF WEED "TO BE STRICT"

Taupo Times, Volume 23, Issue 59, 25 July 1974, Page 1

CONTROL OF WEED "TO BE STRICT"

The proposed marina at Waipahihi Bay would be kept clean of weed through good housekeeping and strict control of the marina iisers, a civil engineer told the borough town planning committee yesterday. Physical removal of weed was regarded as impractical because it would cause a major disturbance to the floor of the marina and not be totally effective, said Mr C. B. Morison.

"The most effective means of weed control is considered to be harvesting," he said.

Mr Morison was giving evidence on behalf of the Jauponui-a-Tia Trust which is seeking permission to establish a marina - 'chalet - restaurant complex. The hearing, which began yesterday, was to continue today. Some 50 people attended yesterday's session. Mr Morison told the hearing that investigations indicated that the site largely consisted of fine pumice shingle, rubbly pumice or white pumice and in certain areas . large rocks and small boulders buried within the soil Jayers. t All these materials were satisfactory for building foundation conditions and ffor use as fill material in the general landscaping -and development of the site. "It is proposed to carry out extensive landscaping work on the site including the formation of building platforms and the excavation of the marina basin," he said. ' To provide boat access to the marina it was necessary to raise the level of State Highway 1 and to build a bridge for the highway across the channel for the marina entrance. The bridge would not only a^low for four lanes of traffic and a median strip but also for cycle tracks

and footpaths on both sides. "The standard of bridge construction will comply with the requirements of the Ministry of Works and Development and the National Roads Board and will, be aesthetically pleasing," said Mr Morison. Provision has been made for 47 jetties in the marina allowing berths for 94 boats. Each jetty is to be fully floating on buoyancy tanks and will slide on guide rails fixed to the marina walk. Boating access to the marina would be by way of a channel excavated from Lake Taupo. Night time navigation of the channel will be assisted by lightjng beneath the bridge spanning the channel. If required by the marine division of the Transport Department, a beacon would be placed on the end of the groyne," he said. Maintaining a high standard of water quality within the marina was of prime irnportance. "One of the principal concerns is the control of weed growth," said Mr Morison. There were two main reasons for providing a groyne — to clearly define the entrance to the marina and thus control boat traffic, and to direct the water circulating through

the marina in the general direction of water movement in the lake towards the Waikato River mouth. Mr Morison also outlined plans for services to the marina. T. D. Webber and B. R. Green, of Auckland, trustees for the Tauponui-a-Tia Trust had applied for a conditional use and specified departure. Thfe scheme proposes a marina incorporating 12 apartment buildings surrounding the waterway and providing 94 household units of six varying designs. A large restaurant would be located to cater for residents and the general public. The trust was applying for five separate consents for the project — four specified departures and a conditional use. Mr J. D. Hole appeared for the applicants. The were 17 objections — R. C. and P. M. Hayward, E. R. and C. S. Vickers, P. C. Miles, P. and K. K. Otene-Meihana (represented by Mr J. E. Story), W. J. and D. M. Branch, Taupo County Council (Mr J. W. Bull), Waikato Valley Authority (Mr Carlisle), Minister of Works and Development (Mr Sutherland, Hamilton), Federation of Lake Taupo Angling, Shooting and Boating Clubs (Mr O. S. Hintz), R. G. Maisey, M. L. Perry, Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society (Mr J. V. Jerram), P. St J. Matthews, A. T. Maynard, P. M. Wilson and five others, W. G. and J. Stewartf C. V. and E. M. Geoghan. The hearing was chaired by the chairman of the borough town planning committee, Mr M. J. Morel. „ In his opening submissions, Mr Hole said the application was "the most exciting and novel" the Taupo Borough Council had ever had to consider. "But, because there are inherent difficulties, this is not a reason for pouring cold water on the application," he said. Mr Webber said in evidence there was no doubt that the piece of land in question, when amalgamated, offered tremendous scope for some sort of comprehensive development. "The land lies in a natural valley and is sheltered from all prevailing winds," he said. "It is close to the commercial area of Taupo and yet not far from the airport." It was particularly suitable for a marina complex

because it was at the head of a cairn bay, he said. The entrance to the waterway was unlikely to become cluttered with debris or other impediments likely to inhibit the

Control of weed 'to be

strict'

passage of small boats. "There is only one obstacle — the State high- . way." said Mr Webber. The 94 chalet units ■ were to be built of maintenancefree, permanent materials of whitish colouring. A restaurant complex of the same materials was proposed for the corner of Tremaine Avenue and the State highway. "A bridge over the marina will be created to provide a passage for traffic along the highway," said Mr Webber. "A swimming pool is • provided within the grounds and there is adequate room for car and trailer parking. "The restaurant complex will contain a small administration area, together with a cafe on the ground floor. "On the top floor there will be a restaurant of international standard." The marina was designed for boats up to 25 feet long. The land upon which it was proposed to develop the project consisted mainly of a Maori partition containing 22 allotments plus Maori roadways. All the European titles to the land (except the five owned by the Taupo Borough Council) had been bought and paid for. Of the 13 sections fotmerly in Maori ownership, 10 had been bought and paid for and there were building contracts for the remaining three, said Mr Webber. Overseas experience had indicated that the best method of keeping a marina clean and the water pure was through good housekeeping. "It is essential that the legal structure of the development provide for adequate control of the marina waterway and

surrounding areas." he said. j "My solicitors have advised that the -most appropnate method oi setting up the development is for the area to be divided into four separate certifrcates of titlc. "Two of the titles . will contain the apartment buildings, one will contain the restaurant complex and the fourth will contain the marina waterway, walkways arid plav area. ' y . "As time has gone on I have become more and more exeited about the proposed development." said Mr Webber. "It would be a uriique feature round the shores of Lake Taupo and, in my opinion, would cpnstitute a further, very real attraction to Taupo town, "In addition, it will provide for 94 new home units and this will have some affect in alleviating the present housing problem in the town. "The ability of the marina to cope with trailerboats (for which it is designed) will assist to relieve the congestion at boat loading ramps around the lake." The trust is to be the registered proprietor of the freehold of the marina waterway title, which will in turn be leased to a company which will form

as Taupo Marina Holdings I.td. • "It is intcnded that this company, will grant licences to the owners of the various ch'alefs and obtain from them a fee for the use of the marina, such fee to cover a portion of the outgoings, maintenance and repairs incurred in respect of the marina," said Mr Webber. He said the erection of a restaurant, cafe and store did not differ dramatically from other uses such as niotels in the area. There was no provision for marinas in the borough distriet scheme, bift the trust* s development was a special one. Ian Geoffrey Mclntyre, registered surveyor and a mcmber of the New Zealand Iristitute of Surveyors, of Auckland, said the scheme was an exciting concept which would provide an additional type of housing accommodation in Taupo. "While it must be considered an expensive scheme, it does provide an attractive building layout, integrated open space and an attractive marina linked by a waterway to Lake Taupo," he said. The site was ideally situated as far as traffic

was concerned because tne ■ marina design cOuld exL clude completely dir.ect vehicle access on to State Highway 1 , hc\ said. All traffic would go on to Pipi Street and Tremaine, Avenue, which led to the highway, "It is my opinion that the scheme complies with the planning policies contained in the distriet scheme and is in accordance with the recommendations contained in the housing commission report. "I am in full support of developing this present waste land into a complex of this nature that will provided a development that Taupo can be proud of," .. He said it could be described as developing a derelict area of land into a comprehensive residential development. To a stranger the land appeared abandoned. as it was covered with fern, weeds, scrub and rubbish. In its present state it was an "cyesore", particularly as it was situated adjacent to the highway. "The marina does not take away any public foreshore rights but, in fact, provides an additional usable shoreline," said Mr Mclntyre. "The marina will provide an additional amenity to

Taupo — and for this reason it should be encouraged." 1 Robert Hector Fish^r, valuer and real estale agent, of Wellington, sMd he expected the sale pri&es for the initial units woiild be in the $36,000 ~to $40,000 range. "The reaction a ye'gr ago, based on indicatdd construction costs at tfie time and a price of $30,0Q0 to $35,000, was very favourable and we obtained written options from approximately 30 prospective purchasers," he said. Proceeding