District Plan changes encourage growth

Taupō District Council has notified a series of Plan Changes to the Taupō District Plan which propose new areas of land for industrial growth and aim to help encourage revitalisation and redevelopment of the Taupō Town Centre.

Plan Changes 28-33 are the result of a long planning process that began with the development of Taupō’s Growth Management Strategy TD2050 in 2005. Most recently the Taupō Urban Commercial and Industrial Structure Plan, which was adopted in February this year, identified land to be zoned for industrial growth and for changes to the District Plan to ensure a sustainable, compact and vibrant town centre.

The six Plan Changes that have been notified cover:
• Taupō Town Centre Objectives and Policies and Rules and Standards (Plan Change 28)
• Taupō and Centennial Industrial Objectives and Policies and Rules and Standards (Plan Change 29)
• Residential Objectives and Policies and Rules and Standards (Plan Change 30)
• State Highway 5 Rezoning (Plan Change 31)
• Spa Road Mixed Use Zone (Plan Change 32)
• New Business Development (Plan Change 33)

Copies of the Plan Changes and submission forms are available on Council’s website, www.taupo.govt.nz, and at Council offices and libraries. The Plan Changes are open for the public to make submissions until 5pm, Friday 16 September 2011. After this, people can make further submissions on the initial submissions. Council will appoint a committee of Hearings Commissioners and submitters can make oral presentations to that committee. Hearings are likely to occur early in 2012.