Ohakune Borough News

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 1, Issue 9, 2 August 1983, Page 1

Ohakune Borough News

The Ohakune Borough Council was able to hold its first full meeting of council in the newly renovated council chambers last month after using temporary accommodation for the last 4 months. The extensions and renovation work started in March and whilst council staff have been able to work under some difficulty by moving from room to room, committee and full meetings of council have had to be held elsewhere. The Mayor, Mr Bill Taylor on behalf of councillors, thanked council staff for putting up with these difficult working conditions and he also thanked the Ohakune Hotel for providing alternative accom- - modation for the larger meetings. "We should now be able to breath a sign of relief, rather than a cloud of dust" he said. All work should be completed this week. Mountain Road A proposal to have part of the Ohakune Mountain

Road — between Thames Street and the County boundary at the Ranger Station — transferred to the Waimarino County for administration purposes, was adopted by council. The 300m section of road, which is very narrow with restricted visibility, runs under the railway bridge No.169 and has been the subject of concern for some time as it provides all access between the mountain and the township. The danger to children and motorists, particularly during the ski season when up to 1000 cars a day might use the road, was concerning the council and it was decided to approach the Ministry of Transport to assess the feasibility of installing judder bars to slow traffic down on this section of the road. Noise control It was proposed that Ohakune Borough Council combine with the other two local authorities to administer the new Noise Control Act which came into force on 1 July.

Public Library The Ohakune public library is to have better access both for customers and for returned books if the recommendations of the report submitted by the librarian Mrs B. J. Warbrick are adopted. The report said that the doors are difficult to open, particularly for the elderly and infirm, and if these were altered, a return-book system (possible a slot in the door) could be incorporated as part of the work so that customers could leave their books when the library is closed. Council recommended that provision be made for the safe return of books as soon as practical after hearing discussion about the difficulties customers — particularly those on shift work or working out of town — were having in getting to the library at the specified times. More Ohakune Borough Council and Raetihi Borough Council news next week.