MTRO grant approved, just

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 513, 23 November 1993, Page 5

MTRO grant approved, just

In a split decision Ruapehu District councillors agreed to help fund celebrations of the opening of Ohakune' s turntable. The opening was to be held next weekend, but will now take place in March next year. Main Trunk Rail Ohakune had requested $2,000 to assist with the opening festivities associated with the commissioning of the turntable on 27 and 28 November including the hire of a large marquee tent, a dais and sound system, a jazz band and preparation of a barbecue meal for both official guests and the many railway enthusiasts who are expected to spend the weekend in Ohakune, National Park and Taumarunui after arriving by vintage steam trains. In a recommendation from RDC marketing manager Bruce Rolleston, councillors were asked to approve a grant of $ 1 500 to MTRO to help with this historic occasion. Mr Rolleston noted that the RDC marketing sub-committee had granted $1500 to the Taumarunui Rail Action Centre (TRAC) to assist with the promotion of their recent 'Extravaganza' event. He noted that the Sing Aotearoa Festival had also received $ 1000 from the RDC to stage that recent weekend event. In his recommendation to approve a grant of up to $1500 from the Extraordinary Grants vote to MTRO he said "that the event is substantial in nature as accommodation is currently being booked in Taumarunui

with Ohakune already booked out." Councillor Shaw said that while he thought both TRAC and MTRO were both "doing a great job" he had some concern that ratepayers should not be asked to fund such an event. Councillor Peck on the other hand said that the grant would be entirely appropriate as it would help market and promote tourism within the whole district. Councillor Weston Kirton (who is also chairman of the TRAC committee) agreed that "there was a very definite pay-back to the whole district for a very small investment". Mayor Workman reminded councillors that all the funding MTRO had received had come from Ohakune' s own Reserves Fund budget and hadn' t cost (Taumarunui) ratepayers anything. In a split vote, council approved the grant with five councillors (all based in the northern wards) voting against the recommendation. They asked that their dissenting votes be recorded. They were councillors: Stuart Shaw, Tony Hawkins, Irene Dempsey, June Baker and Eddie Turley. (Editor's comment: it is interesting to note that when TRAC was granted $1500 for their event in Taumarunui, the application had the full support of all councillors including those from the Waimarino and Waiouru wards).