Raetihi & Ohakune Mainstreet group calls for boost

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 673, 11 February 1997, Page 1

Raetihi & Ohakune Mainstreet group calls for boost

Mainstreet W aimarino has suffered from 'the Invercargi 11 disease', accordingtocommitteechairman Jeremey Nash, who was invited to address the Waimarino Community Board last Wednesday. He said a number of factors, including ill-health of key members plus the eruptions, had led to the committee falling into a depressed state. The very long time it took for the plans to be prepared also led to a loss of momentum, he said. However, he said they felt the group had done its preliminary job of setting out the direction of the project and that it now needed to be implemented with help from council staff. Qateways and cobhles Council chief executive officer Cliff Houston told the board that money was available by way of a council loan to impkment stages of the project if suitable proposals are put to the council. He agreed to arrange a meeting with council staff and Mainstreet to prepare a proposal to council for the Raetihi/ Ohakune project. He said support from the community was needed for the project to proceed. Mr Nash said while the Raetihi community appeared to be right behind their town' s plans, there was at best 70 per cent support for the Ohakune plans. He said he felt the 'gateway' projects for Raetihi and Ohakune could be done for the coming ski season, and that there was now enough information to go ahead with the cobblestones in the commercial section of Seddon Street, Raetihi. Money has been set aside for the cobbles for three years (in a separate budget to the Mainstreet loan). The total estimated cost of the Raetihi project is $746,000, while Ohakune's is $1,832 million. Mr Nash gave the board a breakdown of the costs: Ohakune commercial area Stage One: • Gateways and town approaches, $50,000. • Clyde Street from Burns to Arawa Street, $480,000. Turn to Page 2