Team spirit evoked for future of Ohakune

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 682, 15 April 1997, Page 1

Team spirit evoked for future of Ohakune

Stirring stuff from a born-and-raised Ohakune resident about past efforts of volunteers turned the mood of the Think Tank meeting last Wednesday, leading to strong support for the formation of a new organisation for the betterment of the town. Up until that point the meeting was used largely as a vent for some people' s dissatisfaction with the Ruapehu District Council's performance. But a number of people had said they weren't

there to criticise the council — "we do that 24 hours a day" — but for positive aims. Market gardener Frank Taylor said if people of the town wanted to see Ohakune develop they had to look at "how we got here". He citedthe work of the volunteers like Wig Whale and Eric Fetzer who were among those who built the Ohakune Mountain Road. "The National Park, there' s our vision. It's team spirit that gets things going," he told the meeting of more than

100 people, gathered to discuss the formation of a "group to initiate the establishment of an incorporated society, the aim of which will be to lobby for and directly promote advancement in Ohakune and the surrounding areas". A motion to initiate the formation of an incorporated society, put by Murray Hulbert and seconded by Dave Scott, had previously been moved. Following Mr Taylor' s speech, this motion was carried and several people volunteered to join. Unfortunately, a

call to set a date for the first meeting went unheard, but one of the initiators of the meeting, John McCarthy, later said this date would be advertised soon. Asked if the council would support the formation of such a group, mayor Weston Kirton said yes, they would listen to such a group and go to meetings if invited. "This (type of group) is perfectly healthy, perfectly acceptable," he said. Gripes Earlier in the meeting, a number of

concerns about council performance where aired, with council officers and mayor Weston Kirton attempting to answer some. Concerns about Ohakune included: • Gutters were not kept clean. • The Mainstreet project progress had stalled. • Road sign damage went unrepaired. • Poor rubbish collection, rubbish being illegally dumped, short and inappropriate hours at the dump. Turn to Page 2

Team spirit for future of Ohakune

FROM PAGE 1 • Lack of facilities for the town's youth. • High rates for services provided. • Poor performance and losses of council's company, Ruapehu Construction Limited. • Lack of community consultation during the formation of district plan. • • Lack of support of local

businesses. • With almost all council staff employed in Taumarunui, the Waimarino was missing out on a large amount of money in the form of wages and salaries to support the local economy. Southern staff Mr Kirton said the council was looking to employ staff to be based in the south

where appropriate. The meeting was told that the Mainstreet project was supported by the council but had to be communitydriven. It had faltered because community support had weakened, said Mr Kirton. Mr Kirton said he was confident RCL would return to profitabihty , reminding the meeting that it had

paid dividends to the council in past years. Illegal dumping would lead to prosecution, if the council was given sufficient information, saidregulatory manager Nicole Middleton. A lengthy public consultation process as part of the district plan development was outlined and it was pointed out that, once the draft plan was written, it

went into a formal judicial process that ruled out further consultation. With regard to other problems, acting chief executive Chris Ryan asked that people contact the council with information. "Rather than lying in ambush, please help us — ring us if you have a problem so that we can fix it," said Mr Ryan.