Looking back on '93 headlines

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 520, 25 January 1994, Page 8

Looking back on '93 headlines

Looking back on some of the '93 stories from the front pages of the Bulletin Cont'dfrom last week. Turoa breaks open days record Turoa had 30 consecutive days open by early August, breaking their own records. The rest of the season was pretty good too, with plenty of snow as well as lots of the sometimeselusive good weather to enjoy it. Last service at Rangataua Hall Ruapehu Anglican Church parishioners congregated at Rangataua' s St James Hall on 15 August to witness the deconsecration of the building. It was later transported to Rata St, Ohakune Support for new health centre idea Waimarino people who turned out for a meeting to discuss health care future mostly supported the Wanganui Crown Health Enterprise' s proposals for a

purpose-built health centre in Raetihi. Maori land plan accepted A plan to set up an Iwi liaison working party to look at new district planning rules as well as at ways to develop Maori land for economic use was accepted by the Ruapehu District Council. Much hilarity with snow sumo Skiers got into inflatable wrestler suits to sumo in the snow - just for fun. Power to skiers from long drop? King Country Energy jumped the gun by releasing news of an option to harness the hydro power of sewage flowing down pipes from Iwikau Village, Whakapapa. The Department of Conservation was looking at ways to deal with the sewage disposal problem on the mountain, and 'hydropoo' was one option. Raetihi hall idea fails to find favour The few people who did

attend a public meeting, to discuss a proposed joint effort with the Raetihi Cosmopolitan Club to provide a town hall, mostly opposed the idea. Fatal crash attracts national attention A road accident which claimed six lives near Makaranui had media from all around the country watching. Alcohol was thought to be a contributing factor. Raetihi groups to join forces The Raetihi Promotions Group and the Raetihi Business Association joined forces in September, planning to work together to promote the town. Waiouru firms get tough on crime Business people in Waiouru got together to work on ways to combat crime in the town. Whakapapa to spend $30m plus by 2008 News of Whakapapa' s

long-term plans for New Zealand's largest ski area was released in September, and included several new lifts, cafeterias, snowmaking and other services Plunket groups agree to combine Raetihi and Ohakune Plunket branches agreed to join forces.(28/9/93) Raetihi playground revamp soon After about a year of confusion, things were on the move again with plans to redevelop the Raetihi children' s playground. Also resurrected were moves to upgrade Ohakune' s playground, and possibly move it. Ohakune water 'best in the country' Despite teething operational problems, the Ohakune Water Treatment Plant was still producing the best water in the country," Waimarino folk were told (12/10/93) Forestry workers suspended in wake of market glut A glut in the timber market left Winstones 'no alternative' but to suspend work gangs (12/10/93) Scouts slide to their deaths on Ruapehu skifield Two teenage brothers were killed when they fell 150metres into Skippers' Canyon on Whakapapa on 17 October. Sing Aotearoa The national Choral ffcstival returned to Ohakune for the second time, at LabourWeekend 1993. Bodybuilder tops at Nationals Ohakune body builder Carys Hubbard was placed third in the junior women' s New Zealand body building. Repairs could prove costly: water supply Ohakune water woes continued. Repairs to pipes to and from the Ohakune water treatment plant were expected to cost more than $15,000. 16/11/93) Trains miss passengers A double steam train ex-

cursion in November had to be cancelled through poor ticket saies. There was plenty of interest in the trips, but most planned to follow the trains, not ride them. History turns at Junction Ohakune' s locomotive turntable, out of action for several decades, was back in action and tested with a diesel loco on 22 November, meaning the machinery is ready and waiting for vintage steam train excursions. Horse havoc leads to shooting A group of Kaimanawa Wild Horses caused damage to the Waiouru Saddle Club property in November. Outdoor Pursuits Centre turns 21 The Sir Edmund Hillary outdoor Pursuits Centre celebrated its 2 1 st birthday late November. Board angry at patch-up job Waimarino Community Board members and Ruapehu Di strict ' s mayor said they would not accept a patch-up job to the liner of the town's water reservoir. And so the saga of the best water in the country coming from a hiccup-hassled plant continued. Burglar's actions disgust fire brigade Burglars broke into the Raetihi fire station, making a mess and disabled important emergency equipment. Dump study & consents may cost $800,000 Planning how Ruapehu can dispose of its rubbish within the rules of the Resource Management Act was expected to cost over $800,000 over three years. Turoa plans to build new chairlift Turoa applied for a resource consent to build a new quad chairlift, from the top of the Movenpick Chair to above and to the right of the Giant Chairlift. Ruapehu supports rubbish levy plan Ruapehu councillors supported a proposal to levy manufacturers to coverthe cost of disposing of packaging for their products.