Raetihi base for new council

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 275, 21 February 1989, Page 1

Raetihi base for new council

Raetihi, rather than Ohakune, may have a district council service centre if Mayor Garrick Workman and a number of other councillors get their way.

At a special meeting of the council last week to discuss the proposed Ruapehu District and final submissions on it, Mayor Workman suggested the southern Ruapehu wards pf Waimarino and Waiouru be served from Raetihi with agencies in Ohakune and Waiouru. He reasoned that the council has a number of buildings perfectly suited to the role of service centre while Ohakune's administration centre was too elaborate. Also, said Mayor Workman, the Ohakune building had a $100,000 debt on it.

"However I expect to be shot down," said Mayor Workman. He said he would prefer a service centre in each town but that the new district council would have to look at the cost-benefit of setting up service centres. Raetihi depot Cr Ken Summerhays supported Mayor Workman's view, but added that it was logical to site the service centre in Raetihi because the Waimarino's works and reserves depot is in Raetihi. Cr Bennett said he felt Ohakune was more central for Waiouru as Turn page 2

Raetihi council office

From page 1 well as the Waimarino, but that as far as buildings available was concerned Raetihi was more sensible. Cr Bruce Thompson registered strong opposition to the idea. He said the Jenco Building, which Mayor Workman suggested for Ohakune's council agency office, was already being used as an information office and a transport depot and were thus already an asset to Ohakune. He was also opposed to the Ohakune Library being used as an agency. "The Ohakune office is where the demand is for building permits, for town planning information and applications," said Cr Thompson. "It's also more central for Waiouru than Raetihi."

He added that there was also a works and reserves depot in Ohakune. Freehold "You can accuse me of parochialism if you like," said Mayor Workman, "but this building (the Ohakune Administration offices) is too elaborate for a service centre. The building in Raetihi is freehold and that's the guts of it." Cr Harding said while the availability of buildings was important it should not be the main factor. He said the council should decide where the best place for a service centre was first, then look at which building to use. "Waiouru has a lot of building going on too," he said. "Until we know whether Waiouru's services are

going to be taken over by the council, I don't think we should be making decisions." The mayor said the area could have three service centres if the need was there, but that there was a cost involved. Saleable buildings "The only argument I can see you have is that you can't sell your buildings in Raetihi but we can sell ours in Ohakune," said Cr Thompson. Mayor Workman said even if a service centre were in Ohakune he didn't think the present administration building would suit. Cr Sum'merhays moved that the WDC submit to the Local Government Commission that the Waimarino Ward be served by a centre in Raetihi with agencies in Ohakune and Waiouru. The mayor, councillors Punch, Summerhays and Bennett voted for the motion while councillors Thompson and Harding voted against it, and called for their votes to be recorded. Other councillors were absent from the meeting. Cr Bennett added that he did not see that the decision on where a service centre should be was up to the commission, but should be decided by the new district council. Footnote: A service centre as defined by the commission would provide services including: collecting rates; providing accounts information; providing planning, bylaw and various application information; providing community development and recreation information; taking rates rebates applications and housing accommodation applications; dog registration; and such other services the council considers appropriate.