Village Well back in town
Following the ‘placemaking’ research carried out earlier this year, Gilbert Rochecouste and his team from Village Well are back in Taupo to present their findings and ideas on how we can create a vibrant, flourishing town centre.
The ‘Village Well Community Forum’ is being held on Saturday 2 May, from 2pm to 4pm, at the Great Lake Centre and everyone is welcome to attend.
Gilbert Rochecouste says he is really looking forward to seeing the community’s response. “Taupo is a special, iconic place and my team and I have come up with some exciting ideas and opportunities which we will be presenting - it is guaranteed to be a fun, dynamic, and inspirational afternoon and I hope you will be able to attend.”
In February this year, Taupo District Council and Towncentre Taupo hosted Village Well while they carried out research for their ‘placemaking’ project. Placemaking is an integrated approach to solving the economic, environmental and social challenges in our community. Village Well have worked with hundreds of councils, mainstreet organisations and businesses in urban and rural communities over the last 17 years to create more vibrant, connected and resilient communities.
Village Well focused their energies on the Taupo CBD and Council will be looking at incorporating their findings into the Commercial and Industrial Structure Plan. During their last stay in Taupo, they held a number of different workshops – all designed to provide a broad snapshot of Taupo. Part of their research also involved them walking the streets of the CBD and talking to locals, business owners, visitors… all part of gathering valuable information about what makes Taupo the place that it is!
Council’s Environmental Services Group Manager, Gareth Green is really encouraged with some of the ideas Village Well has come back with. “This is a key piece of work that will help provide our vision for the future of the town centre. I encourage you to come down and check out the ideas that are being put forward as we want to make sure that the whole town is on board with the direction,” he said.
22 April 2009
For further information contact:
Hilary Samuel
Senior Environmental Planner
Taupo District Council
Ph 07 376 0634
Or
Kylie Cotter
TownCentre Taupo Coordinator
Ph 07 377 0104