Plenty of power improvements at Turoa

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 391, 18 June 1991, Page 12

Plenty of power improvements at Turoa

Skiers should notice many improvements on Turoa as a result of the electrification of the field.

Less noise in lift queues, better food and service in the cafeterias, a better ticketing sys- " tem, a bigger, brighter and better ski hire and better toilet facilities are hoped for with mains electricity on the field. Turoa management decided to give the go ahead for the project because of the cleaner source of power, cutting down on the carting of diesel around the ski field, no more diesel fumes and removing the risk of spillages, and the

reliability of mains power. Turoa general manager Angus Grimwade said the mains power system should prove far more effective and efficient and far smoother in operation of the lifts than diesel. Maintenance should be much less with much fewer moving parts than in diesel motors. "Long term there is the reliability of supply and price," said Mr Grimwade. "At the beginning of the year we

had the Gulf War affecting fuel prices and all last year the price of diesel went up and down like crazy." He said electricity provided long term security in energy sourcing. Mr Grimwade said the benefits to skiers and operators will show through in many ways. "The lifties will be able to vary the speed of the lifts to a far greater degree to cater for difficult loads and for the safety of our customers, and when you want to take more care with some passengers such as disabled people," he said.

The buildings, including the cafeterias can now use unlimited power which has allowed many improvements to the

cafeterias. New self-ser-vice hot drinks machines have been installed in all cafeterias and many new appliances such as Bain Maries to keep food hot. A new food outlet, "The Giant Snack Shack" has been set up at the top of the Giant Chairlift, where the stairwell down to the cafeteria has been taken out. The cafeteria downstairs, while still the same size, has better storage and food preparation areas as well as being remodelled to encourage better traffic flow for faster service. With mains power right to the Giant Cafe the menu there will be the same as the Yeti's Cafe at the base area. This menu has been revamped too, said Mr Grimwade. The Yeti's Cafe has been remodelled with the divider wall taken out and a new queuing system designed. More tills, post mix systems and automatic coffee systems have been installed. Power will also mean the cafe's stores can be kept at the base area so the cafes can be much more quickly restocked, said Mr Grimwade. The company's offices have been moved up onto the mountain following the project. Mr Grimwade said there were many disadvantages with being remote from the field.

With mains power a computerised ticketing system has now been installed, previously not viable because of the diesel generation. Even telephones from the mountain will improve with the installation of a microwave link, allowing many more lines onto the mountain. Future Mr Grimwade is reticent about future development but he did say further development will be far easier to install and run with mains power. "It would have been very unlikely for us to install a detachable chair without mains power, for example," said Mr Grimwade. He said power will make using the two snowmaking guns they have at present much easier. (one of the guns is on loan for a large part of this season). At this stage there are no plans to take on major snowmaking plans for Turoa. "We'll be watching Whakapapa's Happy Valley development and will continue to experiment with our own snowmaking to assess our options," he said. Ruapehu conditions were quite different to the South Island fields, he said. "After the beginners areas, Whakapapa's waterfall area, which quickly gets skied off, would be the type of area we would look at for snowmaking." Mr Grimwade praised the King Country Energy staff for their efforts in carrying out the project. "The Power Board have done an absolutely amazing job in the conditions and in the time available," said Mr Grimwade.