Have your say on Taupō District Council’s draft Housing Strategy

Having a place to live is one of the most basic human needs. Unfortunately for some, it is a need that is getting harder and harder to fulfil.

For this reason, Taupō District Council is working on a draft Housing Strategy and is now seeking feedback from the community.

Taupō District councillor Anna Park says once feedback has been collected from the community and the strategy has been adopted, it will be used as a guiding document for Council staff and elected members when making future decisions that affect housing in the district.

“Housing is at the heart of a safe, secure, and vibrant community,” she says.

“In partnership with our community, we want to be part of the solution to the housing crisis we face in this district. We know there has been a housing shortage for some time and that’s why, for the last 18 months, we’ve been working on a housing strategy to help address some of the issues we’re facing.”

The Taupō District’s population has grown by 18 percent since 2013, and for a range of reasons housing supply has not kept up with this growth. The district is now faced with a situation where suitable housing is not accessible for everyone, particularly those on lower incomes.

The draft Housing Strategy proposes some guiding principles and sets out what Council’s role should be. It includes four high-level goals and five areas where Council thinks it should focus its efforts. These can be found at www.taupo.govt.nz/haveyoursay.

Community feedback is essential to Council’s decision-making.

“We want you to have your say on the proposed goals and focus areas, as well as any other general inquiries or ideas you may have,” Mrs Park says.

Consultation on the draft Housing Strategy runs from 19 June to 4.30pm on 17 July.

For more information or to have your say on the draft Housing Strategy, go to www.taupo.govt.nz/haveyoursay, get in touch with our customer service team on 07 376 0899 or email info@taupo.govt.nz.