QEII Army Museum asks for $30,000

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 503, 14 September 1993, Page 1

QEII Army Museum asks for $30,000

A request for the council to pay for widening State Highway One at the proposed new entrance to the QEII Army Memorial Museum is to be considered by the Waiouru Community Board tonight. The Army is planning a $4. 1 million redevelopment of the museum site which will include a new carpark on the westem side of the museum, adjacent to State Highway One. Work would start on the carpark in October 1993, as Stage One of the project. The new carpark, for 64 cars, would be "in aprominentposition for the public to readily find". "It would seem to be appropriate that the Council fund the SH1 widening/adjustment part of the project as it is not on Museum land. This would be a very tangible method of support for the project and the Waiouru community," states the application. The council estimates the work to be worth $30,000, and it is suggested the work could be treated as a submission to the 1994/95 Annual Plan. The new development would transform the museum complex into a major national tourist attraction, providing additional employment opportunities, and increasing tourist traffic through the central North Island. As well as the carpark, the plan includes army theme parks with displays such as a Maori fortification, prisoner of war camp and trench systems. On the present forecourt will be built the "Kippenberger Pavilion" with library and archives and a new restaurant and shop. Two new exhibition pavilions are to be built in the theme park area.