Scout lodge future in doubt

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 583, 25 April 1995, Page 1

Scout lodge future in doubt

Ohakune Scouts' lodge in Lee Street, Ohakune, may have to be sold becauSe the revenue from it is not covering expenses. At the lodge committee' s annual meeting next week, Scout parents will be asked to decide which option to take for the future of the lodge — whether to retain the status quo; whether to sell the lodge for removal; or whether to sell the lodge and land. The 25-bed lodge was built four years ago with the aim being to make it available to visiting groups for accommodation with the profits then used to fund local Scouts activities. However, costs incurred in building, equipping and running the lodge were higher than anticipated.

So far there has not been any fundraising carried out to help with lodge payments. The committee has tried various means to increase the occupancy rates of the lodge and last year placed bookings in the hands of a local property management agency which provided better results but there was still a shortfall of $2200. The idea to build the lodge came from the national scouting association, whose other Ruapehu lodge was under pressure for bookings. However once the Ohakune lodge was built, support for use of it from the national association was not forthcoming, said a spokesman. The AGM is to be held in the Lions Den in Arawa St, Ohakune on 3 May .