Summer spending spree for Whakapapa

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 468, 12 January 1993, Page 3

Summer spending spree for Whakapapa

Reflecting recent great ski seasons, Whakapapa Ski Area is ploughing several million dollars back into its operations this summer. At the top of the spending list is a $2.2 million upgrade of Ruapehu Alpine Lift's highest cafeteria, The Knoll Ride Chalet. The structure will be

altered to include three levels, with a 300-seat cafeteria on the top level as well as a 150-seat deck. At the middle level is to be additional cafeteria seating for people taking their own lunch to the mountain. The toilet facilities will be doubled in size to adequately cater for demand. A new lower level to

the building will incorporate a shop selling accessories, a bag check-in service to allow people to leave their day packs in a dry, secure place for the day. Also on the lower level will be a food kiosk with a 150-seat deck. Two main entrances will provide access to the upper and lower levels

with an intemal stairway connecting the three levels. The lowest level of the ski field, Happy v alley, is also in for a new 120seat cafeteria, just east of the access chairlift. The structure will be a mirror image of the ski rental building put up last summer. As well as the indoor seating, a 100seat deck will be built on the sunny side of the building, with views out over the Valley floor. Next on the shopping list is a new snow groomer. Another Kassbohrer 240D will make seven machines taking care of the quality

and coverage of the snow on Whakapapa's trails. "The past season has confirmed the benefits of providing groomed trails alongside all lifts," said RAL general manager Dave Mazey in a newsletter. Also on the list is $600,000 worth of improvements to the Bruce Road services and carparks. These will include a four wheel drive grit spreader truck to reduce traction problems for cars, a new 200HP tractor for faster snow clearing, and an additional new courtesy coach for the shuttle service from the lower carparks. The company is also working with the Department of Conservation to review the layout of the Loop Road and carparks. They expect to build another 200 sealed carparks. Also planned is a chain fitting service on the Bruce Road. At the Top o' The Bruce an improved information system is planned, with a public address system and a series of computer controlled display panels. Additional ticketing machines and saies of tickets off the mountain are planned, to ease queueing on the mountain.