Cherry blossom time for Ohakune?

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 301, 25 August 1989, Page 3

Cherry blossom time for Ohakune?

Ohakune could play host to thousands of visitors to an annual cherry blossom festival in years to come if plans presented to the council on Wednesday come to fruition.

Ohakune councillors and Rural ward councillor Dave Griffiths put plans to make use of more than $110,000 of reserves funds to the Waimarino District Council on Wednesday. Councillors approved in principle the plans put forward to spend $89,000 of the $110,000 available in the Ohakune Ward and approved plans to spend $25,000 of the approximately $40,000 available to the rural ward. $20,000 of the Ohakune money would be spent on planting cherry blossom trees around the town. The idea was put to the Ohakune Borough Council by resident Gerald Beytagh in 1987 and was well received though there was then no money available. Mr Beytagh gave information on the Japanese Cherry Blossum festival and suggested the beauty in spring time would be a great tourist drawcard. Plans to spend part of the rural ward's reserves fund are to upgrade the Ruatiti Domain. The plan would see putting in a water supply, a double ablution block with flush toilets and septic tank, picnic tables and barbecue fire places and native tree surrounds. Much of the money would be spent on materials with

volunteers providing the labour. Other Ohakune plans, which are yet to be firtalised, are to put in planted areas in the commercial area, reseal the Christie Park courts; install a fountain and

picnic tables, play equipment and planting at the reserve on the corner of Mangawhero Terrace and Goldfinch Street; to improve the roading at the Carrot site; upgrade the swimming baths

changing sheds; seal the road by the baths; finish Rochfort Park fence and help with costs of lighting; assist with DoC's Lakes Reserves boardwalk project; and improve the Jubilee Park play area equipment. A motion was passed to spend (separate)

money which is in the Ohakune sale-of-land fund on upgrading two pensioner flats (the two remaining to be upgraded), the AA building in Clyde Street as well as building a toilet block at Christie Park. Plans for these projects are yet to be finalised.