Plans to boost Lake Tekapo township by redeveloping the town centre and lakefront are expected to be put into action later this year. It is hoped the plan will attract more permanent residents to the town and bring an extra $1 million into the local economy.
This week the Mackenzie District Council agreed to put aside $160,000 plus contingencies (about $200,000 in total) to prepare a subdivision consent to start a ''self-funding'' project to redevelop a 1.2ha land section between the existing retail centre and the lake edge.
Mackenzie Mayor Claire Barlow said the redevelopment plans, which would create a new village green, new hospitality and retail areas and provide better pedestrian access to the Lake Tekapo foreshore, would put an end to the ''ad-hoc'' development that had taken place in the past.
''As anyone who has visited Tekapo will appreciate, the ad hoc development which has occurred to date has meant the town effectively has its back to the lake.
''A large proportion of the businesses face the main road rather than the gorgeous view on the other side. Rather than continue to let the village develop in an ad-hoc manner, this council is willing to invest in ensuring that there are concept plans and engineering plans for the whole development so that the end result is something that is well thought out and something the Tekapo people can be proud of.
''Our development plans will create a much better designed township centre that makes Tekapo a more pleasant place to visit and stay,'' the mayor said.
Subdivision work was expected to start by the end of 2013 and the project would be funded by sales of ''debt-free'' council-owned land, Mrs Barlow said.
The subdivision would involve no risk to ratepayers, and initial land sales, from stage one of the three-stage project, were expected to provide the council with $1 million of net revenue in the next 12 to 18 months, she said.
