Derelict Raetihi building demolition scheme approved

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 412, 12 November 1991, Page 7

Derelict Raetihi building demolition scheme approved

A proposal to purchase derelict Raetihi buildings, demolish them and maintain the site has been approved by the Waimarino Community Board. The board considered the proposal, put forward by the Raetihi Promotions Group, at their meeting last week. They favoured the option whereby the Council would take over the sections once the group had acquired the buildings and demolished them. The RPG would meet all costs of demolition and subsequent beautifying and maintenance costs in consideration for council holding the properties. If and when the land could be sold, the proceeds would go back to the group after first deducting the accrued rates. "This is one issue which the community board can take the lead and suggest a policy to council," said Mayor

Carrick Workman. "Council would want to consider sites case-by-case," said member Doug Bennett. "We don't want to be in the business of owning lots of land." "We ought to be supportive of groups such as this, " said Mr Workman. "Here is a group of people getting off their backsides and doing something to improve Raetihi." The main problem facing the group in attaining the properties was the on-going rates liability. Other options looked at included: • Making the sections reserve (problems with selling the land later). • RPG retaining the land and rates being postponed (RPG would face an increasing rates liability) • Rates remission (Council can only do this in cases of extreme financial hardship).