The company behind a proposed multi-million dollar commercial development in Turangi has updated the community on the progress of resource consent applications for the project.
About 100 people attended a meeting in Turangi on Tuesday night hosted by the Rotorua-based Holmes Group. The company directors, who have signed a conditional sale agreement with Parklands Motor Lodge owners to purchase the property on State Highway 1, plan to incorporate a new truck stop, service station, restaurant and drive-through on a 2.9ha block of land near the lodge. Purchase of the property is conditional on Holmes Group gaining resource consents for the development.
The proposal has split the community, with nearby residents concerned about noise, safety and an increase in traffic.
Independent consultants involved in the consent application were at the meeting, and talked about the potential impacts of noise, traffic, lighting and economic development.
James Bell-Booth from Marshall Day Acoustics in Hamilton, explained the Taupo District Plan has performance standards for noise. He said predicted sound emissions from service centres are generally vehicles, people using the services and mechanical noises such as air conditioning units, refrigeration units and extractor fans.