Civil defence subsidy not on

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 2, Issue 9, 31 July 1984, Page 6

Civil defence subsidy not on

Ohakune's Civil Defence Officer Bully Hays put in a long week at a training course in Marton from July 9-13. Civil Defence officers with practical experience of the Invercargill and Nelson floods attended the course and were able to give 'outstanding' first-hand accounts of how these emergencies were dealt with, said Bully Hayes. Along with new Civil Defence personnel from around the country Bully

was introduced to the organisation and its procedures. Sessions began at 8am and went through until 9.30pm — they got their money's worth according to Bully. At last week's meeting of the Ohakune Borough Council the possibility of obtaining a subsidy to support a regional Civil Defence organiser on a paid rather than a voluntary basis was discussed. But, because the total Waimarino population figure

recorded at the last census was only 5 106, it didn't meet the minimum figure of 6000 required to obtain a subsidy. However, it was pointed out that while the census figure of 5106 represented a permanent residential population, a disaster could occur when the seasonal population of the Waimarino was closer to 8,000 which was well in excess of the minimum required for a subsidy. Bully has been the voluntary Civil Defence Officer for Ohakune since last August, and with the help of the Wanganui Regional Officer in Charge has only recently drafted a Civil Defence plan for the borough. A Civil Defence meeting is planned for later this month between ' Waiouru, Raetihi and Ohakune. With Ohakune in the midst of the central volcanic

plateau Bully is eagerly awaiting a new publication due out soon about volcanic hazards.