Ice rink study progresses

Ruapehu Bulletin, 1 December 1992, Page 5

Ice rink study progresses

Progress of the proposed ice-skating rink continues slowly but steadily according to convener of the Ohakune ice rink committee, Dennis Beytagh. "Despite the lack of publicity in recent months a great deal of background research has been done into ice making equipment, availability of plant, access to technological knowhow, quotes, assessing potential patronage and so on," he said after speaking to the owneroperators of three ice rinks in Auckland and Hamilton. "A lot of information is still in the pipeline and there is still some way to go but the further

we get into the project the more viable it seems." A survey targetting visitors to the area was conducted over Labour Weekend. Questionnaires were prepared by Ruapehu College and, with the full co-operation of both the Whakapapa and Turoa skifields, college students canvassed skiers and other visitors who were on the mountain that weekend. Additional questionnaires were also distributed through local hotels, motels, guest houses, ski lodges, motor camps and sports shops and a total of over 600 were completed.

These questionnaires are now being processed by Ruapehu College and should indicate the degree of support for an ice rink in Ohakune and the number of times such a facility might be used by visitors to the Ruapehu region both during and outside the ski season. Preliminary results show that an all-weather ice-skating rink would be a very popular winter sports facility among visitors to complement other activities ... particularly when the skifields are forced to close by ad-

verse weather. A separate survey to ascertain the degree of local support is currently , being prepared and will soon be distributed throughout the Waimarino. Residents in Waiouru, Raetihi, Ohakune, National Park, Whakapapa as well as those living in the rural areas in between will be asked to complete a questionnaire the results of which will indicate if a covered allweather ice rink will operate all year round or just during the ski season.