Two towns go to war
‘We’ve got councillors up there who I wouldn’t mind betting they have probably not been to Turangi in 10 years.’ SANDRA GREENSLADE
Owen Delany Park velodrome, the recent redevelopment of the O¯ tumuheke Hot Stream, CBD upgrades and work on a proposed Cultural Precinct Project, the critics say.
The complainants are considering various options including seeking support from the local government minister, seeking a judicial review of council practices, or a High Court injunction to stop further long-term plan implementation. JEFF BRASS / STUFF
A media campaign was also under consideration.
Turangi businessman Zane Cozens is a former Taupo¯ district councillor who resigned in 2017, lambasting it as dysfunctional. He says Turangi has been met with hollow promises and ‘‘piecemeal tid-bits’’ designed to placate. The council gave nothing but normal housekeeping – enough for
Tu¯ rangi to subsist but not thrive, he says.
Case in point: a letter from the Tu¯ rangi Community Board expressing dismay over the longterm plan, he says.
‘‘Six weeks later, the community board had heard nothing. I asked Taupo¯ District Councillor Kingi if he could check into it. He checked into it and the Mayor and the chief executive said they’d forgotten about it. That underlines what they really think of us. If we did matter, they would have expedited that to council table.’’
Taupo¯ Mayor David
Trewavas says Turangi was built in a very short period of time for a larger population than currently exists. ‘‘So we are dealing with a significant amount of ageing infrastructure all coming to the end of its life at the same time,’’ he says.
‘‘Council is willing to do its part, though, and has provided projects and funding for that.’’