Options for taupo civic buildings

A workshop on Monday, (21 July) was held to provide an update to elected members on progress with the proposed Taupo Urban Commercial and Industrial Structure Plan.

The workshop was jointly chaired by Clr Don Ormsby, Chairman of the Regulatory and Hearings Committee and Clr Kathryn Uvhagen, Chair of the T/K-M/P (Northern Rating Area) Committee. Elected members were given an overview of the progress to date including more detailed plans for the CBD development. Key issues raised by initial public feedback were discussed and further detailed consideration of all community feedback gathered during the pre-consultation at public workshops and open days will be undertaken at a future workshop.

Chairman Don Ormsby said, “We felt we needed to get an update from officers so we could provide our input into the process before plans go too far down the track. Although this may take more time, it is important that we are all comfortable with the direction being taken.”

Officers went over the pros and cons of a number of options for proposed civic buildings in or around the Taupo CBD. This was followed by some very basic cost estimates to construct a new Arts and Cultural Building in Taupo and also deal with the need to update and expand the existing Council building.

This may mean upgrading the existing site, or alternatively selling the existing site which is quite valuable, and rebuilding elsewhere.

The proposal by Council officers was to combine a multi-use, three-story building in the Tongariro Domain which incorporates an Arts and Cultural Centre with a new Council building.

Clr Ormsby said, “based on feedback to date, there appears to be a lot of support for the general vision going forward to create a vibrant and dynamic central district for Taupo, although many comments express resistance to moving Council administration offices into the Tongariro Domain.

Clr Uvhagen said, “Officers have done a thorough job of providing expert urban design concepts, however Councillors have requested an analysis of the public feedback from the pre-consultation, more information on proposed roading and traffic management patterns and further discussion on alternate building locations for Council offices and an Arts, Heritage, Cultural Centre either separately or together.

She said, elected members have also asked for more detail around future proofing Council buildings, public transport and a parking impact study.

A workshop to look more closely at changes to the CBD layout and also to look at industrial areas will be held later in the month before work on the draft plan is finalised and put out for public consultation.