Board rejects 10 cent Pipiriki wharf offer

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 681, 8 April 1997, Page 5

Board rejects 10 cent Pipiriki wharf offer

Ten cents is too much to pay for Pipiriki' s wharf, Waimarino Community Board members decided at their meeting last Thursday . A report was presented on whether the council should accept the ownership and future maintenance of the Pipiriki Wharf on the Whanganui River. They decided that with the wharf on land that is

subject to a Waitangi Tribunal claim, taking ownership of it was a problem they could avoid. The board heard that the legal responsibility for the 80-year-old structure lies with the Crown, specifically Land Information New Zealand (LINZ), an off-shoot of the previous Department of Survey and Land Information (DOSLI). LINZ was offeri ng to pay the councii's share of $ 1 0,000of repair work,'provided that the RDC accepted ; ownership afterwards for ; the price of 10 cents. Previously, the Crown, RDC, Department of Conservation and wharf users : had discussed contributing : $2500 eaehtocover the cost , of repairs. B ut rather than accept the j: offer, community board | members felt the council | would be "buying into a

problem". As well as the Waitangi Tribunal claim, the council would be responsible for future health and safety problems. But the wharf is seen as an important tourist facility as well as being identified as a historic Structure. The report stated that at a meeti ng held i n October i n Pipiriki at which a large numberofcommercial river users were present, "it was difficult to ascertain actual users of the structure" as they said they only used the boat ramp. LINZ had told the council that if the council did not take it on, LINZ would be forced to demolish it, "despite the likely political backlash to itself and in all probability, to council". LINZ did not have the means to repair it, stated the report. "If LINZ haven't the

funds to maintain the wharf, how.pan they have the funds to demolish it," asked member Bob Peck. Acting council chief executive Chris Ryan said he believed LINZ . and DoC were putting pressure on the RDC to take the wharf, and recommended that they "call their bluff', The board rejected the ownership offer and approve the one-off contribution of $2500 for the repairs.