Shopping centre investment scheme suggested for Raetihi

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 8, Issue 375, 26 February 1991, Page 1

Shopping centre investment scheme suggested for Raetihi

Raetihi's tide is set to turn to the positive with a new group which is being formed whose idea is to reconstruct the retail trading centre of the town. At a meeting at the be going backward," Raetihi RSA last week said Mr Dobson. He

the idea of forming an investment group was put to a small group of business people to guauge their reaction. The group steering the idea, headed by John Dobson, aims to have 100 per cent commitment from Raetihi businesses in the scheme to raise the money for the centre. "The retail section of Raetihi has come to the point where it is not going forward ahd may

said the present retail shopping area was too sprawled and the buildings were all too old. The scheme would see business people investing each month in the

scheme until enough money was raised to start work. At this stage no site or building plans or ideas have been looked at. The group wants to build

enthusiasm for the idea first. Mr Dobson said if all business people supported the investment scheme they could have Turnpage2

Raetihi retail rebuild

From page 1 a million dollars inside five years. They could see work started after three years, he said. The scheme would be along the lines of a building society, with investor's funds earning intercst. "Raetihi has more reasons to go ahead tlian to go backwards," said Mr Dobson. "It is worth pushing ahead in this town." He said the group feels the town is in a good position long term with a strong farming future, despite the present downturn, and a potential to pick up some spin-off from the tourist industry which he said is facing a bright future. "There is not going^to be some big corporation come into town and do it for us," said Mr Dobson. "We have to do it for ourselves, and it can be done." He said people are now choosing to retire to Raetihi and that this could increase further in future. Mr Dobson said they were pleased with the attendance at the first meeting, though he would have liked to see more of the town's busi-

ness people. Ruapehu mayor Garrick Workman and councillor Bill Peach spoke to the meeting. Following the meeting the steering group will circulate a ques-

tionnaire on the proposal and seek interest in forming a 'guiding committee' which would oversee the scheme as well as co-ordinating other activities that would come as spin-off from the scheme.