Taupo Council Long Term Plan hearing in Turangi.

I had to feel so sorry for the Taupo Councillors patiently listening to all the ratepayers passionate appeals about their issues to be included in Taupo’s Long Term Plan.  This was Day 3.  On the previous 2 days at Taupo they had survived through over 60 submissions.  Perhaps the biggest challenge was for them to even remember our submission about the Taupo to Turangi (T2T) bike and walking trail.  All these submissions were to tell Council where to invest our rates (- if there were any funds left over from their compliance staff’s wages needed to check on TRM’s signage?).  So instead we tried to tell them how to “invest” in a tourist scheme which their own consultants advised would – quote “generate between $2.87 & $4.71 million annual income”.  Wow!  Then they had to listen.  I think I may have rambled on a bit too much but hope they got the message.  No doubt someone will mention their photo is in today’s daily Report so they might read this too as another reminder.

How does this local political nonsense qualify to sneak into a “TRM Fishing Report” I hear you ask?.  When (not “if”!) this trail is completed anglers will benefit just as much with extended access tracks taking them up the Tongariro River beyond the Sand Pool and all the way to Poutu Dam – up to 14 km of additional fishing previously only accessible by raft.  But keep that to yourself…  The images below illustrate just one little spot up there that we stumbled on (obviously lost?) and hint at why the completion of this biking/hiking trail is doubly important.   I forgot to tell them about the potential for improved anglers access at the hearing in case they imagined we were biased..

Back to the hearing – below is TRM’s submission in support of the T2T.  Now you will see why everyone is so determined to complete this biking/hiking tourist trail…

Taupo Council need to allocate top priority to the biking/walking track from Turangi to Motuoapa, as the first stage of the longer Turangi to Taupo Trail.  

 

All the research and feasibility reports have already been completed to confirm the likely success.  A feasibility study of the Turangi to Taupo bike  trail was completed in 2015 with supporting evidence from TRC (Tourism Resource Consultants).  

In 2016 they estimated within 5 years over 20,000 tourists would use the trail between Turangi and Motuoapa to generate between $2.87 & $4.71 million annual income.

 

The continued growth of biking/walking trails has been remarkable. Biking is the new golf, etc.  TRC confirm one in every four visitors, who participate in a walking or biking activity, stay longer and spend more. Based on the success of other trails – Timber Trail, Hauraki Trail, etc. we believe these $$$ forecasts are now conservative. i.e. On both these trails new tourist accommodation was developed due to high demand from visitor numbers.  Comparatively several motels on SH1 along this eastern edge of Lake Taupo have closed in the last five years…

 

The independent TRC report confirms the Turangi to Taupo trail possesses all of the attributes that make successful trails.  

Formal and informal discussions (by Turangi Councillor Tong Kingi) with land owners and trustees of multiple owned blocks of land have continued for over the last year.  We understand they have nearly all been consulted and are equally enthusiastic about supporting the trail.  To them it is needed as much as a long term business creation scheme as a tourist trail.  They cannot afford further delays.  It is now time to commence development.

 

In TDC’s own study in 2017  – “Turangi Economic Development Strategy” this trail was considered the top priority – assessed as “transformational” for the economic future survival of Turangi.  

Since then, in November 2017, TDC prepared a submission to DOC for this trail to be part of the next Great NZ Walks extending from Taupo through Turangi to Whakapapa.  

Much of the trail south of Turangi is linking existing DOC tracks. Only the Turangi to Taupo section involves new trails.  

 

The initial first step needed will be to link Turangi via the Tongariro River Trail to Lake Taupo at Stump Bay and on to Motuoapa.  DGLT (Destination Great Lake Taupo – Damian Coutts) are totally supportive of this proposal and have already investigated the likely route.  From Taupo the lakefront “Lions Walk” already extends their popular biking/walking trail to Waitahanui.  

 

If this first 11km section north of Turangi is completed it will add to the existing 13 km Tongariro River Trail to provide a full day biking/walking experience out of Turangi.  

 

Nothing else is more important to encourage tourist growth to secure the economic future of Turangi.  i.e. TDC’s own demographic projections indicate Turangi population could fall 25% in the next 25 years (from 3,340 in 2013 to 2,475 in 2043).  Property values struggle as there are limited employment opportunities and limited demand.  The demand is for holiday homes rather than from new permanent residents.  i.e. Recently one Auckland buyer invested in seven properties to rent out as Airbnb holiday homes – for about the same price as an average house in Auckland..

 

MBIE analysis confirms such biking/walking trails provide an average return of $3.50 for every $1 invested.  

For Turangi residents it is more important to provide long term employment as a tourist trail – in addition to initial short term jobs during construction.  

Irrefutable evidence from other trails (i.e. Hauraki Trail) confirms the growth of other localised business to support bike trails.  It would be a win-win for everyone.

 

The completion of this trail will increase international awareness for Taupo region as a biking destination – already claiming to be the “bike hub” of the North Island.  Existing Bike Taupo trails around the north western side of Lake Taupo do not link with other trails such as “Waikato River Trail” and “Mountain to Sea” trails.  

 As a result Taupo misses out on events such as the “Tour Aotearoa” bike-packing market from Cape Reinga to Bluff.  This has been a huge success.  i.e. In February 2018 over 600 bikers left on the Tour Aotearoa.  None visited Taupo.  Completion of this new “Great Walk” through to Whakapapa could bring the “Tour Aotearoa” (NZ’s 3000km bike-packing odyssey) to Taupo.   

This is not a new proposal. Turangi have been promoting this trail for the last ten years with support from Taupo MP Louise Upston and previous Mayor, Rick Cooper. i.e. It was subject to a feature article in the January 2010 issue of Wilderness Magazine.  A video prepared in 2011 featured the MP and Mayor supporting the proposal.  The Turangi Chronicle dated April 29 2010 front page featured it.  Taupo Times, 12 February 2016 heading was “Taupo to Turangi bike trail reaches stage two” (?) etc.  

Meanwhile over the same time frame other trails – i.e. Waihaha etc. have been conceived and completed…  It is time the construction of this biking/walking trail to link Tuangi with Lake Taupo and Motuoapa commenced…