Fresh thinking by a group of student planners has resulted in three innovative plans that the communities of Whitianga, Coromandel and Koputauaki will find of particular interest.

The University of Waikato graduate planning class produced the plans using the work of the Coromandel Peninsula Blueprint Project as a guide. The Blueprint is a joint initiative to guide change on the Coromandel in order to protect and enhance its special character.

Coromandel, Koputauaki and Whitianga were selected because the group wanted to consider the planning challenges for a small settlement, a town facing high growth and a Maori community.

Strategies for directing the future of these towns were presented to Blueprint project partners Thames-Coromandel District Council, Environment Waikato, Hauraki Whaanui and the Department of Conservation recently with some interesting results.

Among the suggestions by the group was a community-owned and operated solar power station for Whitianga, affordable housing zones in Coromandel town and the provision of papakaianga activities on Maori land in Koputauaki.

TCDC Group Manager Policy and Planning, Peter Mickleson, said although some of the proposals suggested by the students would come with a hefty price tag for ratepayers, from a policy perspective there were surprising similarities to what the council is already working toward.

"It's great to see these young people, who will be tomorrow's leaders, prepared to think about new solutions to current problems," he said.

TCDC Strategic Policy Manager Katherine Palmer said the Blueprint project team benefited from the enthusiasm of students who researched their plans using the vast amount of information collated for the blueprint so far and by "getting to know the community, its issues and options".