Letters to Editor

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 1, Issue 7, 19 July 1983, Page 1

Letters to Editor

Re: Ohakune Footpaths sympathise with Mayor ^PP/lor not having a footpath outside his house. The reason to me is quite clear. The latest set of O.B.C. accounts available to the public show that a figure of $160,600 was allocated for roading and footpaths. Ratepayers paid their rates in good faith with the expectation of $160,600 being spent on footpaths and roads. In actual fact the amount that was spent from the roading rates was only $87,877. The ratepayers had their footpath and roading money shortchanged by - some $72,723. This was no doubt gobbled up by administration and other contingencies. It will be interesting to see if computers come under contingencies in the next set of accounts.

'Twisted Ankle'

Other letters on page 2.

Letters to Editor

Re: /.. Heappey letter After reading through some 'emotive' passages in Mr Heappey's letter, the 'them' (the Junction) verses 'us' (the central shopping area) message comes through loud and clear. What a load of rubbish to say that all town services will be duplicated at The Junction — where? There are only 3 sections available in Thames Street and as the types of businesses that can operate are very restricted (no supermarket) and total floor areas must be a maximum of only 30 square metres. With the cost of buying land and building, the disadvantage Mr Heappey speaks of is surely at the Junction. Would Mr Heappey rather see businesses that only open for around five months of the year in the middle of our very fine shopping centre? Does he also corjdone the long grass and unkept sections that most o'f these premises seem to degenerate into as the owners enjoy themselves elsewhere after taking as much as they can and leaving the rest of the town to look after itself.

It is important that the central shopping area remains open all year round not for the odd few who want to "make it all" in a few months. It is accepted that the Junction area is a winter time only area — for those who only want to operate a five month business. Let them establish at the Junction instead of turning our central shopping area into a summer ghost town! For those who support the 'them' verses 'us' concept — think again — would you really like closed premises next to you for over six months of the year? Finally, Ohakune is becoming a beautiful town with excellent shopping facilities — sure there are problems — who hasn't got them? The tourists are coming here in increasing numlA there have been many all year, round businesses opened. Lets see how many knockers stand for council in the local body elections.

Ohakune Junction

Tourist Deve/opment Assn

Ski hire A special Ohakune town planning hearing recently considered an application for the establishment of a sports shop in Ohakune specialising in the hiring of all manner of sporting equipment. The council gave the applicant approval to proceed with the sports shop and the hiring of all the sports, equipment with the specific exclusion of snow skis — which in fact is allowed in the town plan as a conditional use. At the conclusion of that meeting an off-the-cuff impromptu motion was moved by Councillor Martin of the works committee — "that Council immediately initiate a change to the town plan to ban ski hires from the commercial area of Ohakune". This motion was passed with no written report from the Town Planner as to the advisability of this action. The town planning committee was denied the opportunity for more in-depth consideration of the consequences of such an action. The obtaining of factual information from the traffic officer was totally ignored. Mayor Taylor's subsequent assurance that the matter has not yet been decided by

Council rings very hollow when viewed in context of other recent issues decided by Council with blatant disregard of qualified recommendations to the contrary. I see this matter being yet another appeal joining growing list that awaiting a hearing with the Town Planning Tribunal. Each of these appeals will cost the Ohakune ratepayer and appellants very large sums of money. The possibility of costs being awarded against Council for some of its decisions is very real. The legal costs now being committed by the innocent people caught up by Council' s recent impetuous decision already runs into thousands of doliars. If it is proved that the decision to ban ski hires from the commercial area is basic good town planning, then obviously any expenses incurred are justifiable. If ski hires turn out to be a normal legitimate commercial activity of a ski town, then I hope council will take the time to examine the real motives behind this latest foray.

Bruce

Wilde