Council takes on info centres

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 492, 29 June 1993, Page 1

Council takes on info centres

The Council takes over the Ruapehu Information Centre in Clyde Street, Ohakune, this week. After ironing out hitches with the agreement with the Ruapehu South Business Association, it was agreed that the council' s marketing arm would take over the centre from Thursday 1 July. The present centre manager, Rose Pepere, will continue to run the centre on a day-to-day basis, said Ruapehu District Council marketing manager Bruce Rollinson, with council taking control of overall management. "We'll be working a lot closer, for the greater benefit of the district," said Mr Rollinson, "with the resources of the council along with the experience of the staff here." He said they would be able to expand on the centre's activities to take in more loeal promotions, work on district brochures and launch campaigns such as taking

part in trade shows and the like. "As far as the public are concerned they won't see any major changes in the way the centre is run," said Mr Rollinson. He said the upgrading pro-

gramme would continue, with the centre eventually being put on-line to the council' s central computer system. One of the benefits will be that Mrs Pepere will spend less time on admin-

istration (once the transition period is completed) and more on providing information services. They hope to complete the transition period by 31 July. The council and the

RSBA resolved the dispute over support for the association by agreeing that centre staff would provide administration support so long as it fitted into the centre's budget. Previously the council had offered a set dollar amount of service, with hours charged at a commercial rate, of $30 per hour.

"We've agreed that so long as staff work within the confines of the council' s budget, staff will provide assistance," said Mr Rollinson. "It's a general agreement, where both sides have to respect the demands on the centre." Mr Rollinson said the agreement acknowledges Turn to page 2

Info centre

From page 1 the work the RSBA has done to develop the centre, after taking it over some years ago. The centre was started by the Waimarino Bulletin (now the Ruapehu Bulletin), then taken over by the Automobile Association. Staff will also continue to support programmes such as Mainstreet, which RSBA has started. "Part of my job de-

scription is to liaise with local promotions groups such as the motelliers, the retailers' groups as well as the RSBA," said Mrs Pepere. The centre will be officially handed over to the council at the RSBA's annual general meeting tonight, 29 July. Winter hours start now, with the centre open 8am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday, and 8am to 5pm Saturday & Sunday.