The Tūrangi street revitalisation project is well under way. Photo / Laurilee McMichael
The Tūrangi street revitalisation project is well under way. Photo / Laurilee McMichael
Tūrangi is receiving $20 million of spending in upgrades and new projects, both underway now and coming up in the next five years. Laurilee McMichael takes a look at them.
Street Revitalisation
The biggest project currently under way in Tūrangi is replacing crumbling areas of kerbs with new kerbing andchannelling.
It involves removing trees that are too large for the berms and replanting them with more suitable specimens such as kōwhai.
The $6.6 million cost is coming from the Government's shovel-ready projects fund. All up, about 35km of kerbs and channel will be replaced around the town during the project.
Tūrangi-Tongariro Community Board chairman Clint Green, who gave a brief project update at a Tūrangi public meeting in July, said stage one of the project, in Rangipoia Place, had been very positively received by its residents.
"It's certainly produced a nice upgraded modern look to the streets. It's revitalising, and it's creating local jobs."
Contractors have almost completed stage two, which is Harata and Hingaia Sts and Tureiti Place, and stage three, Pihanga Rd. They are about to start work on stage four in Mawake Place. The fifth and final stage is Te Rangitautahanga Rd.
Green said the huge trees in Rangipoia Place had been replaced by kōwhai trees which were a good size and more appropriate as street trees.
Green hoped the $6.6 million would last until the end of the project. He said at the rate the contractors were working, the work may be finished by early next year, although two years had been set aside.
Tūrangi Recreation Activity Centre
The Taupō District Council has allocated $15.9 million to this big-ticket project after all councillors agreed that the town needed to move forward with a new centre to replace the ageing town gymnasium, which is too small and restricted in its use.
Councillor John Mack said at present all that was known was that the money would be available and in year one, which was now, there was $250,000 set aside to come up with a concept.
The balance of the money will be spread over the following three years and he hoped building could begin in the 2022/23 financial year.
"In a year's time we'd hope to have the concept up and ready but you have to go to the public first...the wish list is going to be massive and we're going to consult with the community first."
Mack said the centre would be for everybody in the community and may even incorporate the town gym, the council service centre and the senior citizens' hall, but the wants and needs would emerge through consultation.
Once a project structure had been developed the community would have the opportunity to express their views.
Mack said a venue that could be used for different purposes would be preferable and other towns had activity centres with, for example, moveable walls to allow for flexible spaces. He said the steering group would be looking at innovative recreation centres in Bulls and Christchurch to see what was possible.
"This is a reality, we are starting this year and looking forward to getting it built."
A new sports hub is on the way for Turangitukua Park. Photo / Laurilee McMichael
Tūrangitukua Park Sports Hub
The council is putting in $1.7 million and a further $300,000 is coming from BayTrust for this project, which will cater for outdoor sports.
Mack said the sports hub would be in the park, would have changing areas and an area for 150 to 200 people to be able to mingle, as well as a kitchen to allow for hosting.
"We're talking about it being a destination place for other teams to come to."
The sports hub has been designed and consented, a call has gone out for tenders to construct it and construction is expected to start in this financial year.
The council has also allocated another $140,000 to secure the park with fencing to stop vehicles driving on the field and causing damage. In addition, there would be power for lighting at the sports fields and Mack said he was determined to find the estimated $120,000 for lights from grants.
New playground at Te Kapua Park
This will be a 50/50 partnership project with local hapū Ngāti Tūrangitukua, which owns the park.
Some $480,000 is set aside for the first stage next to the skate bowl and aquatic centre, and there will be another stage coming later that is not in the Long Term Plan, elsewhere on the park.
Mack said at present the project is with Ngāti Tūrangitukua to come up with a story for the park, which would influence how it would look.
Te Kapua Park is awaiting a new play area next to the skate park. Photo / Laurilee McMichael
He mentioned the Tongariro South Domain playground redevelopment in Taupō, where the upgraded playground has been themed around the legend of the battle of the mountains. Once the story of the Te Kapua Park playground is settled, there could be progress on designing and building it, he said.
Tūrangi Transfer Station upgrade
Some $80,000 has been spent redoing the recycling area and tidying up the transfer station, which had made it better presented and laid out.
Green said he felt the green waste area still needed some improvement and that he would like to see the waste compacted and removed more often.
Water Mains
About $1 million has been allocated towards this. Green said replacement water mains were being laid along Taupahi Rd and the streets off it.
Mack said it was an exciting time for the town and he was heartened by the support of the other councillors.
"Not one councillor has said no to any of this. It's been really humbling that they have all gone to these meetings two years ago and said 'actually, Tūrangi deserves more'."
Green said all the developments were "really positive" for the town.
"There's always been the criticism that Tūrangi has been a forgotten township of the region. It's really positive to see, and I think the council are genuinely interested in spending money here and looking after the place."
