A major revamp of Taupō’s main drag that would see cars banished from it’s prime lakeside is prompting angst amongs some business owners and predictions of doom for profits.
The section where Tongariro Street morphs into Lake Terrace has unobstructed views down the lake to the mountains of Tongariro National Park – a natural asset the Taupō District’s Council’s town centre transformation (TTCT) wants to capitalise on by increasing pedestrian access to the lakefront and Tongariro Domain.
But some businesses nearby are giving the concept, which forms phase three of the TTCT, a mixed report card as it goes out for consultation.
Uppermost in their concerns is the removal of parking along what will become a one way section of Roberts Street, and the potential effect on custom.
Roberts St will effectively become a continuation for calmed southbound traffic on Tongariro St, while a section of Lake Tce, from the sweeping turn at the end of Tongariro to Ruapehu St, will alter it from road to public open space with pedestrian and cycling connections.
Traffic coming north along Lake Tce will instead have to access the central business district via Ruapehu St.
The changes tie in with shifting local through-traffic from Tongariro/Lake Tce to skirt the CBD via Spa Rd and Titiraupenga St (phase two of the TTCT).
Dixie Brown’s Restaurant owner Michael Opperman voiced the concern of a number of lakefront businesses Stuff spoke to, saying the loss of parking was a terrible idea.
“I like what they want to do… and I think it’s going to look beautiful, but they have removed all the car parks in Roberts Street and all the restaurants along there rely heavily on cars. People don’t want to walk two blocks to come and have a coffee…
“We aren’t asking for more car parks than what we have, but to lose Roberts St carparks... I think there are about 60 there, that’s a lot of people, especially the elderly, they are not going to park behind McDonald’s and walk.”
Recent renovations that saw parking out of action meant business suffered, Opperman said.
“And that was only 15 per cent of the car parks.”
Cafe Baku and Subway had similar ideas, he said.
Changes to the streetscape would “look amazing”, but he was going to put his concerns in writing now the design was out for consultation.
“They’ve just ignored us, we physically met with them, myself, Vaughan (Nairn of Baku)... and all the other restaurants all phoned whoever it was and said ‘we need car parks’ and they haven’t done anything…”
Taste Cafe barista Owen Croudis said car parks for workers also had to be taken into account.
Vehicular traffic like motorcycle touring groups pulling up and dropping in were also “a surprisingly big thing,” he said. Nor did Taste owner Joshua Parker want to see any reduction in outdoor seating space his business could rent from the council.
While aware of possible cons, other businesses saw the increase in foot traffic as a boon, particularly in summer.
Some on Tongariro St noted they had few parks now so diners already parked elsewhere.
Chintu Contractor of Mulligan’s Public House saw it as making the quarter more vibrant and spreading the outdoor dining experience back up Tongariro St.
“I know it will impact, but at the moment some of those carparks aren’t used by people going to the nearby businesses anyway. There are eight car parks out there and 120 seats in my restaurant, next door has 60 and there would be 35 at the takeaway.
“With all these people dining, if it was 80 parks being removed I’d say it would have an enormous impact but eight?”
One establishment around the corner had 40 seats inside and over 130 outside, Contractor said, which, while he acknowledged they paid rent for, he would like to see available to others.
Eat Street in Rotorua had detractors in the beginning, but now people regarded it as a success.
“People can walk and if you take a wrong turning in your car here you only travel 100m to round the block, not like in Auckland where you will drive an extra 1.5 km. We need the business more than we need the car parks. Some people don’t want change, look at it from the visitor’s perspective.”
The changes were the council finally giving something back to the area, since the removal of through traffic caused by the East Taupō Arterial in 2010.
“In 11 years the council hasn't added value. Look at how many tenancies last less than three years. You don’t even need two hands to count them.”
TDC head of operations Kevin Strongman, certainly related the changes to the ETA which had freed up council management of the local road network but said the council was working with business.
When SH1 ran along the lakefront and through the town centre, he said, it separated retail and hospitality areas from the lake and recreational space of the domain but the Taupō Urban Commercial and Industrial Structure Plan (2011), had laid out an “ambitious plan to transform the town centre.”
“Essentially, it is about creating vibrant, attractive, liveable places for our community.”
The “game changing” $20.6 million government investment in 2020 through the Crown Infrastructure Partners ‘shovel-ready’ fund, meant the council was now able to realise the plan and connect the CBD to the lake and green space.
“It really is a once in a life-time opportunity to create a world-class waterfront.”
The plans also involve the less controversial stopping of a section of Horomatangi St and creation of a signalised pedestrian crossing to make playing fields safer to access for students from Taupō Primary School.
School Board of Trustees chair Catriona Eagles said the council had been in regular contact on the changes to the road network and the impact on the school.
“Whilst it’s a significant change and not one, to be fair we are enthusiastic about, the outcomes we are seeking, given it’s going to happen anyway, are excellent, and we feel really listened to and involved.”
Credit: Stuff.co.nz
