Pipiriki Rd negotiations confidential

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 572, 7 February 1995, Page 1

Pipiriki Rd negotiations confidential

Negotiations with Winstone Pulp Industries over their ntribution to the Pipiriki Road upgrade will take place hind closed doors. Ruapehu mayor Garrick Workman told the Waimarino jmmunity Board that the council had made a promise to PI that the matter would be kept confidential until a oposal was formulated. He added that the community d the board would have a chance to comment on any oposal once it was formulated. "I wish we could be more open but we have given instones an assurance, and we're going to stick to it."

Board member Winstone Oliver said there was concern in the community that the council was advertising to raise a million dollars for the upgrade before negotiations with WPI were complete and Transit New Zealand was yet to confirm its contribution. Council' s engineer Bruce Dobson told the board that they were applying for permission to raise a loan and that the council would decide at a later date whether to proceed and how much to borrow. He said they were "setting the wheels in motion". Turn to Page 3

Pipiriki negotiations FROMPAGE1 John Compton said some people felt that advertising the intention to raise the loan was "showing council's hand". Mr Oliver said a suggestion had been made that, if WPI won't contribute, the council could repay the loan from a capital value rating system so that "forestry would be forced to contribute". Board member Ben Goddard said the situation was "not all negative". He said the increase in forestry (which means the road upgrade is necessary) would provide many employment opportunities for local people. "The public perception is that it (the road upgrade) is going to be more than what is proposed," said Bob Peck. Mr Workman said he hoped TNZ would see the need to upgrade the road to a standard to suit tourist traffic.