Raetihi and Ohakune

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 490, 15 June 1993, Page 5

Raetihi and Ohakune

pollowing a public meeting in Ohakune, ppnvened for the purpose of establishing a Mainstreet committee, a small but enthusiastic gj-oup of people drawn from Ohakune and Raetihi have been meeting on a regular basis in gn attempt to get a combined Mainstreet project underway. By combined I mean - one committee, one co-ordinator - two separate programmes, pne for each town. A Mainstreet programme can succeed pnly if the local com-

munity is committed to ipaking it work. Our lopal Mainstreet £pmmittee is keen to pbtain the support of frpth the Raetihi and Qhakune communities fpr a combined Mainstreet project. The committee is aware of criticisms lev§iled at it by some jetailers who are congerned about certain aspects of the programmes pjanned for the two ppmmunities. Be assured the Mainstreet Committee, pf which Iama member, Will not be making deci- . §jons that impact in an adverse manner on the two retail communities fpncerned. The committee intends to fully conS\ilt with all retailers, tbe Waimarino Pommunity Board and

the communities at large before implementing any of its proposals. In conclusion let me jpake these final points: • The Ohafcyne/Raetihi Mainstreet pj-ogrammes will not be a copybook of the Wanganui, Napier programmes or any pther programmes where 'Mainstreet' has been tfjiplemented. • Retailers may be gpcouraged but certainly > ppt forced to paint or ypgrade their premises. • Retailers/sponsors jpay be asked" to contribute to the cost of fynding the 'Mainstreet' programmes. Again there will be no compulsion to do so. This inpjudes cobblestone fpotpaths outside their premises. • Provided the com-

munities, at large agree with the project, the Ruapehu District Council will be approached to fund a substantial part of the two programmes. Please feel free to contact either myself or a member of the Mainstreet Committee if any further explanation is required about the project. Mainstreet committee members: Sue Allomes, Chairperson; Robert Horne, Vice Chairperson, Ohakune; Hope Vaughn, Vice Chairperson, Raetihi; Bubs Hibbard, Elaine Goldfinch, Max Kelly, Verona Smart, Joanna Savage, Bernice Frost, Alan Whale, Irene Whale, Peter Berry, Craig Ryland, Rose Pepere, Garrick Workman.