Crown will free 400 to 500 sections in Taupo

Taupo Times, Volume 23, Issue 60, 30 July 1974, Page 1

Crown will free 400 to 500 sections in Taupo

Crown land will be made available in Taupo to allow the development of between 400 and 500 residential sections.

The M.P. for Taupo, Mr J. W. Ridley, made the announcement on Friday after receiving advice from the Minister of Lands and the Minister of Housing. He said the new development would be in addition to the 200 sections already being developed in the ' Waipahihi area by the Ministry of Works and Development.

The co-operation and assistan^e of the Taupo borough and county councils was being sought by the housing division of the Ministry of Works and Development to facilitate planning and servicing requirements for the latest development. Mr ' Ridley said it was proposgd that the resources of private enterprise would be harnessed to expedite development of at least part of the land available. > - It was only by such a co-operative effort that the

critical housing shortage could be overcome. Meetings were held last week by Mr Ridley with representatives of the Taupo bordugh and county council, Taupo Chamber of Commerce, Master Builders' Association, Lands Department and the housing division of the MWD. The housing division of the MWD would arrange for those areas most easily developed to be proceeded with immediately. Mr Ridley said it was

anticipated that when developed, a small proportion of the sections would be used for State rental and design and build houses, with the majority being retained for private housing, for local body projects and for housing for employees of industries and firms with significant staffing needs. It was hoped that the large-scale methods would overcome the housing shortage and stop the inflationary trend. Although the total number of 4-500 houses was large, they would be split into some five or six areas to avoid any monotony. Mr Ridley said that, in this respect, the development would be subject to government environmental impact report requirements. Negotiations were proceeding and actual development would start as soon as contract documents were drawn up. Development would proceed concurrently with the latter stages of the Waipahihi project now under way. Mr Ridley said further developments would proceed on a continuing basis as required to keep ahead of the needs of expansion.

A further area for 2-300 sections will be investigated by the Lands Department immediately. Mr L. Saunders, president of the Chamber of Commerce, which partly initiated the meeting with council and Government representatives, expressedsatisfaction at the result. "It is the first time everybody has got together and we sorted out a lot of problems," he said. "The-meeting will probably eliminate the need for the chamber to send a deputation to Wellington to protest over the housing shortage in Taupo." Mr Saunders said the Chamber of Commerce had been pressing the Government for a definite programme of action. Another 300 sections at least should be "on the go" by mid-1976, the chamber was assured.