Webb re-elected

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 611, 7 November 1995, Page 9

Webb re-elected

Colin Webb, chairman of the W aimarino Community Board (WCB) during the last 3 -year term, was reelected to that position at last Thursday's inaugural meeting of the new board in Ohakune. By a vote of five to four he was elected ahead of RuapehuDistrict councillor John Compton who was then elected deputy chairman. The full community board consisting of Colin Webb, John Compton, Ellen Gould, Gary Rawnsley, Ray Berry, Alf Alabaster, Doug Bennett, Bob Peck and Robert Horne were sworn in before consideration was given to the three remaining agenda items on the order paper. These were: Parking and Access within the commercial area of Ohakune. It was pointed out by RDC town planner Jeff Page that Winning Waimarino' s Mainstreet project involved the commissioning of Wellington-based urban design consultant and architect, John Ashari and part of his brief is to develop adequate concept plans for improving and enhancing principal thoroughfares in Ohakune (and Raetihi). This would include giving consideration to traffic flows and attractively planted conservation areas within Ohakune. Board member John Compton said there was a need forboth the RDC town planner and the Mainstreet architect to work closely together.

Board member Robert Horne (who is chairman of the Mainstreet committee) said that his group was having some difficulty getting results frorn John Ashari in Wellington and expressed his concern that, if the project drags on, further funding may be prejudiced. Christmas decorations The Board accepted a resolution from RDC marketing manager that instead of Christmas trees being displayed in the main streets of Ohakune and Raetihi over the Christmas/ New Year period, Christmas-type flags willbe purchased with the funds set aside for trees in this year's Annual Plan. Past experience has shown that Christmas trees are usually past their best in a few days, drppping pine needles and being tom do wn by vandals. Flags, on the other hand have an estimated life of three Christmas seasons and the brackets by which they would be attached to shop verandah posts could be utilised to display flags for other festival periods. Meetings schedule The next meeting of the WCB will be held on Thursday 7 December. This will be a special meeting starting at 5.30pm, to consider and prioritise all the submissions made to council in respect of the 1996/97 Annual Plan. A schedule of regular meeting dates and times thereafter will also be decided at the 7 December meeting.