Public restaurant

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 1, Issue 36, 28 February 1984, Page 2

Public restaurant

Well, the Ohakune Borough Council is looking after the interests of their ratepayers again. Or are they? At least 305 people signed a petition agreeing 'The Hobbit' should be able to serve meals to casuals but the councillors have obviously ignored this. Surely those signatures reveal the opi'nions of the public and are they not who the" councillors represent for the good of the town of Ohakune? Is Ohakune to develop or stagnate? Surely somebody that is prepared to stay open 52 weeks of the year to serve the locals is worth more than those who pick and choose what days they will be open, if at all in the summer? What a substantial investment Mr Jackson has put into Ohakune and for what? A slap in the face that's what! ! Can laws not be changed? Laws are for the times and times .change. Do we have to live with th.e past laws?.Change'goes with change does it not? One wonders ... are those

councillors too set in their own old ways to see change? Good on Cr. McKenzie when he said that such restrictions stifle development ... he at least can see change. Upset Ratepayer who lives in Ohakune 52 weeks of the year Editors Note: As we reported last week, Section 74(2) of the Town and Country Planning Act states that: Subject to Section 3 of this act the Council may consent to such a specified departure onh if (a) The effect of the departure will not be contrary to the public interest and will have little town and country planning sigriificance beyond the immediate vicinity of the land concerned, and the provisions of ihe scheme can remain without change or variation. The Ohakune Borough Council, in announcing their decision only referred to the last two conditions. They did not mention public interest nor the petition with more than 300 signatures. There were only four objections to Mr Jacksons application to operate a pubU^t restaurant at the Hobbit Mo^^^> They were: (1) Sunbeam Lodge, (2) Cafe Stua. (3) Kings Court and (4) Junction Businessmens' Association.