RVC move supported

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 412, 12 November 1991, Page 3

RVC move supported

The idea of moving the Ruapehu Visitor Centre operation into the Miro Street Council offices was supported, for investigation, by the Waimarino Community Board at their meeting last week. Members expressed reservations about the idea but supported it in principle so the idea could be further investigated. Council general manager Cliff Houston said the idea was being investigated as a way to cut council costs. He said economies of scale could be made with a combination of the two services. He said they were basically in the same business - that of providing information. Council officers would continue to operate from their own offices in the building, he said. Combining the two would also save council money because the Ruapehu South Business Association was likely to ask for more money next year under the present set up, said Mr Houston. "We are under a great

deal of pressure to do more for less and this would be a way to do that," he said. Member Winston Oliver said he thought the idea had merit but was concerned that with the council so involved in the promotion aspect it may take control and then tourist operators would become disheartened and lose interest in promotion. Mr Houston said the council would not control the RSBA, but rather it would contract to supply services to the council. Member John Compton said the public would not be dealing direct with the council and that may cause problems, but Mr Houston said the is-

sue was not who they were dealing with but with the service delivered. Member Bruce Thompson said the town would lose a valuable asset if the information centre was to be shifted. He said it was in an ideal location where it was. "My job is to investigate more economical ways to do things," said Mr Houston. "The pot is limited. If you want the information centre round the comer that's fine - where 's the money going to come from?" Member Bill Peach asked why the council information services could not be tendered out if money had to be saved. He said NZ Post could be one possible

supplier. However Mr Houston said that would not get around the funding of the Ruapehu Visitor Centre. Three members voted for the proposal, two against and there were two abstentions.