Locals can hardly keep up with all the changes around Turangi.  A big report today for your long weekend study.

First in the “CBD” (?) three new shops – one for Bayleys Real Estate – are being developed on the corner beside  Doyles accountants office – fronting on to the large car park.

Many regular inmates have questioned the viability after considering the number of vacant shops in the main mall but the local real estate agents must know something they don’t.

Turangi shopping centre was originally designed by the Government (MOW – Ministry of Works) to cater for about 10,000 residents but as less than 3000 live here it is now over-shopped.

Perhaps the attraction is the closer vehicle parking and access as this is where Turangi’s infamous taxi stand is located.

Turangi does not have any taxis (yet?) but that just shows how forward thinking local business is.

Next to that is the continuing conversion of the old vacant supermarket into two more new shops.  One of these is to be a new bar.

Then there is the proposal for a new service centre on the Parklands Motel site on the eastern side of SH1 opposite the existing Z petrol station and Burgerking complex.  This will follow a similar theme with eight pumps, heaps of parking for a 24 hour fast foods (Wild Bean Cafe and McDonalds?) outlet.

This proposal has really stirred up interest from residents on the eastern side of SH1 opposing and the rest of Turangi located on the western side of SH1 supporting the proposal.

The opposition (NIMBY”S ?) are mainly upset about any potential detrimental commercial impacts in the residential zone.  The supporters are more motivated about any new jobs.  More info from local paper and in advertisements and protestors website below…

Other not so obvious developments are the conversion of the Council offices to house DOC (Department of Conservation).

Only a couple of years ago DOC deserted their offices in Turangi to new offices at Taupo.  Now they have wisely returned and will be sharing Council space until new offices are developed on the site of the Information Office (iSite).  Meanwhile the information office has been repaired to fix leaks and converted during the winter to accommodate the Volcanic Activity Centre.

But already the far sighted local Community Board are planning complete redevelopment of the iSite corner as their most important future project to incorporate the Council and DOC and another still confidential (watch this space) tourist facility in a major new building at the main entrance to the Turangi CBD.

But we saved the best for last –

By far the most talked about and admired major construction project located on the banks of the Tongariro River.

Immediately at the back of Creel Lodge, beside the famous walking/biking trail, the Lodge have erected a much admired seat for tourists overlooking the Island Pool.

What a perfect stress free place to sit and ponder and listen to the tuis.

Thank you to Peter and the team from Creel Lodge.

Anglers seen from the seat on Friday confirm summer has arrived on the Tongariro River.

Spawning trout could easily be seen from the seat teasing the anglers.

Image on right is the only other river bank seat overlooking the Major Jones Pool.

This is locally referred to as the “Courtney Place” bus stop.  Whenever fishos stop there to watch the action from anglers casting into or playing trout in the Major Jones Pool the tourists cannot help but ask “Caught any?”

Hence the Courtney Place bus stop?

Local humour…