Mayor replies

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 439, 9 June 1992, Page 4

Mayor replies

• In reply to the writers of both letters let me just say this. I can understand your anger over the Rangataua sewerage loan and therefore I can understand your reticence to assist National Park any further than has already been the case so far. However the Ruapehu District Council 'inherited' the National Park problem and is dealing with it in the fairest and most sensible way it possibly can. The amount of $20 per uniform annual general charge, $275 inclusive (the same amount as currently levied), is being advanced by way of a loan (not a handout) as it was when originally levied.

This enables rates in National Park to remain slightly above last year's levels while Rangataua remain at the same level in the current year. National Park ratepayers pay significantly more than the ratepayers in Rangataua or the ratepayers in any other urban area where water and sewerage services are provided. (see page 5). Quite frankly I've had a gutsful of these "blunder" "balls-up" allegations coming from one or two Rangataua ratepayers who seem very good at writing these sorts of letters and making caustic comments of this' type. I will remind them both the local body elections are just around the comer and I would expect to see their names in the list of candidates for the Community Board, Council and/or Mayoral elections. If they can get themselves elected and can do better - fine! I was Waimarino Dis-

trict Mayor at the time of the so-called Rangataua sewerage blunder when the council of the day reeling from one amalgamation and then being forced into another omitted to offer Rangataua ratepayers the opportunity of paying their lump-sum contribution. No-one regrets this more than I do and I've since publicly apologised on behalf of the council for this oversight at a public meeting in Rangataua township. Bear this in mind though, when it came to the crunch and Rangataua residents were finally offered the opportunity of paying a lump-sum contribution, just over 50% chose to take that option. The percentage who did not would have had to be paying interest on their loans in any case. Those who did pay a lump-sum contribution and were required to pay a twelve month interest charge used the scheme virtually free of charge for two years and obviously had the use of their money during that time. Nevertheless it was a mistake the Waimarino District Council made as I've admitted publicly a mistake that will not be made again.

Garrick Workman

Mayor