RSBA balk at blossoms

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 306, 26 September 1989, Page 13

RSBA balk at blossoms

Spending $20,000 on planting cherry blossom trees in Ohakune is not the best way to spend council reserves funds, according to some Ruapehu South Business Association members.

The group discussed the council's plan to spend $20,000 on planting cherry blossom trees and some said the money could be better used put towards a facility that tourists could use, such as an ice skating rink or upgrading the swimming pool. RSBA member Paul Scarf told the Bulletin he was all for planting trees but that the council should be seeking donations from businesses and then organising the community to plant the trees, rather than spend such a large sum on paying someone else to do it. Another member, Val

Parkes, said she would not like to see the money spent on planting the trees on road verges, as they would be too easily damaged. She said some RSBA members were initially shocked at the proposal because they thought the council was to spend about $80,000 on the project. She said $20,000 wasn't so bad. She said she would rather see the trees planted in strategic areas, such as in Christie Park, where they would have a better chance of survival. She said 75 per cent might survive if planted in groups but thought they would mostly die if planted on road verges.