Soon to be very different

Plans for new Taumarunui town centre unveiled early December

Taumarunui residents will get to have their say on what they think of the plans to redevelop the town centre at a special launch event planned for early December.

Bespoke Landscape Architects the urban designers selected for the Town Centre Project which covers the top end of Manuate St and the area along Hakiaha St from the old library through to the town clock were back in Taumarunui on Tuesday (11 Oct 16) to present their preliminary ideas following their site visit in September.

Ruapehu Mayor Don Cameron said that the feeling was that Bespoke really nailed the brief and have come back with something that celebrates Taumarunui's history but also its aspirations for the future being both modern and a reflection of our landscape.

The initial concepts looked amazing and we can't wait to be able to show them to the public, said Mayor Cameron.

Bespoke are now going to develop detailed plans including a 3D model that we can show to the public and get feedback on.

Although we are confident that people are going to be as excited as we are about the plans if there is any overwhelming feedback about some aspect that isn't working we can accommodate that.

Mayor Cameron said that Council was going to organise a special event that Bespoke will attend to unveil the plans and 3D model.

The plan is to hold the public launch event in one of the empty shops on Hakiaha St and then the display will be open for a week.

We want to provide the opportunity to allow as many people as possible to see the plans and provide feedback if they want.

Council would like to see this project acting as kick starter for other projects and revitalization ideas.

We believe that once people see the impact this is making they will want to get going on other revitalization projects, said Mayor Cameron.

To help get people inspired we have asked Bespoke to develop concept plans for other projects around Taumarunui such as the River Walkway.

We would like these to be ready in time to display along with the Town Centre Project plans," he said.

*End*