Power staff praise

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 391, 18 June 1991, Page 13

Power staff praise

"They really, really did a magnificent job," said Ohakune conservation officer Lisle Irwin. "They accepted and understood the restrictions we had to place on them, and took great pains to cause virtuallv no damaae to the bush."

Mr Irwin's job for the Department of Conservation saw him ensuring the Tongariro National Park suffered a minimum of damage as a result of the project. He said he was not looking forward to overseeing the project, knowing that the crews would have pressures of time and budget on them. He said Park staff held meetings with the crews to explain the conservation values and why the restraints on their work were necessary. "Their attitude and ability to work under the constraints that we placed on them was outstanding." Mr Irwin said he was impressed with the techniques the guys on the ground developed to lay the cable through the bush. He said it was a first for Tongariro National Park and for the KCE staff. "There are places were they have laid the cable where already you would be hard pressed to find it," said Mr Irwin. "And in the

other places such as in the tussock country, once the small vegetation has grown it will be very difficult to find the cable at all." He said laying the cable on the ground was not as visually unsightly as overhead wires, which were ruled out as an option by DoC, but that without care it could still have been a problem if not routed properly. He said DoC has been right behind the project from the first time it was suggested, because mains electricity on a skifield was "a whole lot better altogether" from a conservation point of view. "It's brighter, drier and warmer." By cutting down on diesel on the mountain noise, fumes, small diesel spills and the potential for large spills is reduced. (Diesel is still used on the mountain for the Snow groomers and to run the Moro T Bar - which is too remote to be cost effective to connect to

the mains supply). DoC keeps an eye on the services offered to the public on its mountain, and is pleased to see the improvements in service facilities such as toilets and cafeterias.