Who We Are

Kuratau Omori Preservation Society (KOPS) is

dedicated to ensuring our local environment

remains a special place for our children and future

generations. We’re a voluntary group of residents

and ratepayers passionate about nurturing and

enhancing the environment in our beautiful

lakeside area. We represent residents, families,

and regular visitors to the Kuratau-Omori

settlement. We work with the Omori Kuratau

Ratepayers Association and the local pest

management group (volunteers who maintain

traplines in the bush to control predators like rats,

stoats, feral cats, hedgehogs and possums).

 

 

AGM of Kuratau Omori Preservation Society

At the AGM of the Kuratau Omori Preservation Society (KOPS) on 4 Jan 2019 an unexpectedly large turnout of people voiced their concerns about the proposed subdivision (see map) adjacent to Whiowhio Reserve which includes 81 sections (land commonly known as the D2/D3 land).

 

Most of those present were current members or

past members of the society, and were aware of

the role KOPS played in curtailing an earlier

proposed subdivision in the same area. At that

time, KOPS opposed a Taupo District Council

(TDC) plan to rezone the land from rural to

residential, and the matter went to a hearing in

 the Environment Court.

 

As a result, TDC’s District Plan now includes a

number of conditions addressing many of the

special ecological and geographic features,

including bird life, the bat colony, vegetation, and

risk of flooding, slips and liquefaction. It also

designated some of the land as Significant Natural

Area overlay SNA 064, and an Amenity

Landscape Area overlay ALA 69: ‘The Kuratau

Bush Slope’.

 

 

TDC Still Considering Application

At this point in time, TDC is still considering the application to develop the D2/D3 land. As part of its process, it will decide whether or not to publicly notify the application. KOPS has already written to TDC’s CEO Gareth Green, Planning committee chair Roseanne Jollands, and council planners Nick Carroll and Louise Wood. We reminded the council of its own conditions for any subdivision of the land, and urged the council to publicly notify the subdivision application.

This public notification would enable all interested parties to make formal submissions on the application. Without that, we and the community are powerless to formally comment on the application.

 

 

We Need More Members to Represent the Community's Views

KOPS membership in 2018 dropped to around 35. If the society is to represent its community’s views on the proposed subdivision, we need more members, and people with planning and legal expertise in local government resource consent matters to step up and help.

 

 

Time is of the Essence

A committee was elected at the AGM which includes: Don Mathieson, Dave Huxley-Jones, Bryan Watts, Richard Marchant, Fiona McLaughlin and Brian Eastham. But as indicated above the committee requires people with planning and legal backgrounds to assist. You will not be required to become a committee member but rather provide some time and expertise.

 

Please contact Don Mathieson at dlmsbm@hotmail.com or 04 904 1260‬ or

Bryan Watts at bryan.watts@clear.net.nz or 021 605 915‬ by 31 January at the latest. Time is of the essence.

 

To join the Society, to add your support to their efforts to advocate on your behalf contact Dave Huxley Jones at thehjs@xtra.co.nz or 027 733 3633. Dave will then ‬send you the membership form and bank account details. The membership fee is a modest $10 per person per household and donations are also accepted and are tax deductible.

 

 

 

Stay up to date with KOPS activities on facebook

 

 

Contact us at: thehjs@xtra.co.nz

 

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