New RSBA leadership

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 549, 16 August 1994, Page 1

New RSBA leadership

The Ruapehu South Business Association (RSBA) has new leadership. The group held its annual general meeting in the Ohakune council chambers last Thursday night. It was followed by a meeting of the Winning Waimarino (Mainstreet) committee. The RSBA meeting was chaired by Phil Abel who took over as interim chairman in April after Sue Allomes had been appointed interim co-ordinator of the OhakuneRaetihi 'Mainstreet' committee. Mr Abel said had only taken on the chairmanship as a temporary responsibility and no longer wised to continue in the capacity for the next year because of other commitments. The meeting elected Jeremy Nash of Raetihi as chairman of the RSBA for 1994/95 with Robert Home of Ohakune being appointed as vice chairman. Both were elected unanimously . The appointment of Robert Home as vice chairman was seen as an advantage in terms of communication between the RSBA and the Winning Waimarino Mainstreet groups as he was already chairman of the latter. Communication was seen to be of major importance not only by the RSBA and Mainstreet but also between various groups such as the retailers associations, the accommodation houses, MTRO and outdoor activities groups which, from time to time, have to come together for joint projects. It was decided to re-examine the structure of the RSBA with a view to setting up a 'communications network' between all local groups. The 1994/95 RSBA committee is Kate Bramley, Bernice Frost, Bob Graves, Sue Allomes, Phil Abel, Dennis Beytagh and Joanna Savage, as well as all existing members of the 1 993/94 committee otherwise not present. Bruce Rollinson (Ruapehu District Council marketing manager) declined membership because, as an employee of the Ruapehu District Council, he could foresee a possible conflict of interest when it came to applications for funding. Under the heading of general business the commit- > tee heard from Dennis Beytagh and Phil Abel about the current state of progress on the^^^T proposed ice skating rink in Ohakune and j) the planned public meeting at Ohakune Club on Saturday 3 Sep SZ tember. ^ = S Also discussed was co-^^r • aVv Boots & ° operation between^^^g^ p0|es hire the RSBA and the (Jh from $15 § Turn to -l*0 Snowboard ^ Page 2 hire f'om $20 q childrens hire $10^^

Business group changes

FROMPAGEl Department of Conservation to help with joint projects. Sue Allomes explained that the DoC were trying to develop walkways through the bush involving a series of loops which would provide walkers with a number of options and return them to the starting point. DoC's Ohakune Ranger Station hours were also discussed with Kate Bramley (Ruapehu Visitor Centre) and Joanna Savage (Turoa Ski Resort) expressing their own and local DoC staff opinion that the hours should be extended to provide a better service and utilisation of the facility. Local staff had already taken it upon themselves to remain open to 1pm each day to meet the demand instead of closing at the officially sanctioned time of 1 2 noon. When it was learnt that the Ohakune Ranger Station was to have an electronic visitor counter (monitor) installed to assess demand, Bob Graves said the cost of installing such equipment would be about the same as employing someone for the extra hours . BruceRollinson advised

the meeting of the need for the RSBA to present their submissions to the Ruapehu District 1995/96 Draft Annual Plan as soon as possible. He said other organisations such as the NZ Fishing Council, Forest and Energy and Federated Farmers had already made very full submissions whereas tourism "which has the greatest potential over the next 10 years" has not ben very active in presenting their cases for funding assistance. Mainstreet The Winning Waimarino/Mainstreet monthly meeting was held at the conclusion of the RSBA meeting. Elaine Goldfinch and Irene Whale joined those already present at the RSBA

meeting. Co-ordinator Sue Allomes gave the meeting a brief account of the official opening of the Jubilee Park walkway by Conservation Minister Denis Marshall last Friday week. She said Mr Marshall had been very good value and that he had unveiled a plaque and planted a tree. She also reported that Ruapehu District Council mayor Garrick Workman had spoken "most eloquently" about the walkway project. She told the meeting that there had been very good support from Maungarongo Marae and that Ruapehu Lions had offered to help with the project. The next meeting willbe held on Monday 19 September at 7.30 pm.