Taupō projects strengthen regional resilience
Published: 16 March, 2023
Community-led projects that will strengthen economic resilience in Taupō and the wider region have been completed with the support of a $29 million Government investment.
Taupō's new town centre pedestrian precinct opened with a Ngāti Tūwharetoa dawn blessing by Tauhara Hikuwai hapū.
The $25 million Taupō Town Centre Transformation project, a new $9.72 million Taupō Airport terminal and Eastern Arterial Shared Path were officially opened this week.
Approximately 280 people were employed in the construction of all three projects, which were co-investments in partnership with Taupō District Council, its Airport Authority, local businesses and the community.
The Taupō Town Centre Transformation received a $20.6 million grant from the Government’s COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund (‘Shovel-Ready Infrastructure’). The fund is administered by Kānoa, the Regional Economic Development and Investment Unit, part of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
The Eastern Arterial Shared Path received $3.4 million from the same fund and the new Taupō Airport Terminal which is bigger than the old one, received a $5 million grant from Kānoa’s Provincial Growth Fund.
Nearly 90 percent of the total cost for the town centre project was spent with local businesses. Around 95 percent of the new airport terminal project funding was also invested with local businesses.
Kānoa manages 220 projects in the Waikato region, with a value of $288 million (as at December 31 2022).