Council supports Pipiriki as River Park H.Q.

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 1, Issue 23, 8 November 1983, Page 1

Council supports Pipiriki as River Park H.Q.

At last month's meeting of the Raetihi Borough Council, the proposed Wanganui River National Park was discussed. The Raetihi Borough Council had already presented a submission to the Lands and Survey Department supporting the proposal to establish a 81,400 J^^are National Park along ^Wh banks of the Wanganui River. It had also considered submitting a petititon currently being circulated in Raetihi in support of the proposed park. However. Cr Cornwall. who had prepared the submission, now felt that the value of the petition would come'later when, after the park had been approved, the question of location of the Park Headquarters was to be decided. Cr Cornwall pointed out that the claim by Wanganui

as the site for the park headquarters would be about as relevant as Timaru's claim to have the Mt Cook National Park headquarters situated in that city merely because they could see the mountain from there ... on a clear day! And whilst Taumarunui's claim might be a little. more relevarit than Wanganui's, it was obvious that Pipiriki, situated in the middle, about half-way between the northern and sourthern boundaries of the Park would be the logical,choice of location to establish a park headquarters, said Cr Cornwall. "Unfortunately our local. MP is more in favour of Taumarunui for the park headquarters so he needs to be informed otherwise". ' The establishment of Pipiriki as Park HQ will have several advantages to the area though these. will

not happen overnight, said Cr Cornwall. Tourists will gravitate towards a park headquarters. Pipiriki would thus become the hub of the river park activities. This in turn would bring with it a substantial commercial operation into the area with obvious benefits to the local community. Any such development would also bring with it a need to Upgrade the Pipiriki Raetihi road. Council decided to support the location of Pipiriki as the river park headquarters and agreed to continue with the collection of signatures for the petition which will be presented when the location of park headquarters came up for consideration.