Business Leaders Unite to Shape Taupo’s Future

Business Leaders Unite to Shape Taupo’s Future

A group of business leaders, representing hundreds of stakeholders in Taupo’s commercial community, have formed an action group to advocate collectively for economic growth in the district.

Representatives from Taupo Chamber of Commerce, Towncentre Taupo, Enterprise Lake Taupo, Destination Lake Taupo, and a number of independent business owners have met to discuss opportunities for the future commercial growth of Taupo.

Enterprise Lake Taupo Chairman, Danny Loughlin, said that the group had initially come together to explore two key areas, namely potential impacts on the Taupo central business district once the ETA has opened, and opportunities for commercial development along the ETA.

“Everybody’s talking about Council’s Structure Plan, and the Civic Centre proposal in particular,” said Mr Loughlin. “A lot of the information being bandied about is total rubbish. My concern is that people who are opposed to the Civic Centre don’t seem to be care about the future generations of Taupo and have lost sight of what’s important. Let’s move the debate forward by focusing on the facts and discussing how a world class Arts & Heritage Centre can benefit Taupo.”

Chamber of Commerce Representative, Rob Marshall, said that the group, known as ‘Taupo Inc’, is a proactive mix of Taupo locals who are determined that economic growth should not be stymied.

“The proposed Civic Centre has monopolised the public debate surrounding the Structure Plan,” said Mr Marshall. “Unfortunately, the critically important aspects of the Plan surrounding future growth opportunities for Taupo have been waylaid. We want to ensure that Taupo has a positive growth strategy and an enabling framework for economic development opportunities.

“We are very aware that some in our community wish for Taupo to ‘lock the doors’ and not allow further growth,” said Mr Marshall. “However, for the sake of employment stability and economic certainty, not to mention opportunities for our children and grand-children, it is essential that we plan proactively for the positive growth of our town.”

“It is apparent that the Civic Centre proposal has polarised the local community,” said Towncentre Taupo Representative, Richard Buckthought. “Unfortunately, the amount of misinformation, rumour and speculation surrounding the proposal has meant that many people have formed an opinion without actually knowing the facts on the Civic Centre concept. We plan to provide some balance to the debate by sharing some facts and information on the positive economic opportunities the proposed Civic Centre could deliver.”

ENDS

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