Master Plan to develop Waiora House site
Waiora House had been home to a number of social services and community groups and was demolished following the discovery of asbestos and a full assessment of its condition late last year.
With the clearance of contamination now confirmed, it was decided at the August Council meeting to move forward with the master plan, including provision for a youth hub which had been included in the 2018-28 Long Term Plan.
Head of community, culture and heritage Dylan Tahau said this was a positive move forward for the site which formed an important part of Taupō’s history.
“The safety of our community was paramount throughout this, and now that the site has been cleared and our testing has shown it is free from contamination, it is time for us to look at the next chapter for this site,” Mr Tahau said.
Development of the master plan will begin in the coming months with input from the Waiora Community Trust, its tenants and the wider community.