What is going to be

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 1, Issue 15, 13 September 1983, Page 4

What is going to be

The following report was preparedby Ohakune's Toum Planner Mr E. C. Fox The present Scheme Statement describes the commercial areas of Ohakune as they were in 1979. In the interim period there have been some changes with new facilities being built both in the town area and at the Junction. Clause 4.3 of the Scheme Statement sets out the philosophy, objectives and policies of the Council in providing for commercial development in the Borough. These in turn have resulted in the ordinances for for the Commercial A, Commercial B and Tourist Development zones. During the review process, there was a tremendous amount of discussion about the commercial activities, there were public meetings on the issue, and of course there were appeals which were decided by the Planning Tribunal. The end result of this process is the Scheme that we have now. Present situation The Scheme became Operative from the 8th of June 1982 but in fact its provisions were being observed for at least two years prior to that. It has been a period of great change with the increasing momentum of tourist development related to the Turoa Skifield and in addition other tourist related activities such as Venture Treks have established in the town. As a result there appears to be a continuing demand for ski hire premises, and for food outlets. Unfortunately, this pressure is for the winter season only and results in a "stop/go" aspect to commercial activity. The attempt to consolidate the purely retail aspects in the Commercial B zone has been successful so far as it has gone, the one exception to that being the difference of opinion which has arisen over restaurants. The question really is, whether a restaurant is a compatible activity with retailing such as foodmarkets, chemist shop, etc or is it more aligned to fringe commercial activities such as petrol service stations, ski hire, offices, etc. Ski hire premises have also been the centre of much debate but here the question has revolved around whether they should only be permit-

ted in the tourist development zone at the Junction or whether they should be also allowed in the Commercial A zone, where at present they are a conditional use. Future Ohakune in the past has been a service town for the surrounding rural area and for the Railways. This has changed to the extent that the Railways function is diminishing, while a new function as a service centre for tourism is developing. It is envisaged that the town will continue to service the surrounding rural area, but it will become predominantly a "tourist town". The dilemma facing the Council at present is whether to go wholeheartedly toward the tourist town concept or whether to continue to try and administer a fine balancing act between what are often competing interests. There are occasions when the service centre ca^k cept and the tourist tol^ concept are in harmony but there are other occasions when they are in sharp conflict and it is these factors which are causing the present debate. In my opinion it is inevitable that tourism will play a bigger part in Ohakune's future. Not only is the promotion of tourism seen as desirable by a large proportion of Ohakune residents, but it is also a National objective as well as a Regional one. With the im-