Higher altitude for Turoa sought

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 14, 1 September 1987, Page 6

Higher altitude for Turoa sought

New Zealand Ski Fields Limited are to make submissions on the recently released draft management plan for the Tongariro National Park concerning ski area boundaries, rockgrooming, snowmaking and the supply of energy on the ski field. Wilson Whineray, NZSF chairman, said in his address at the company's an-

nual general meeting that NZSF had not had any input into the management plan, other than advising matters upon which submissions were sought to be made. The submissions concerning ski area boundaries will ask for extensions both east and west of the existing boundaries as well as an increase in the altitude of the top boundary. The present upper limit is at 2325 metres, which is at the top of the High Noon T bar and Turoa would like

that limit increased to 2500 metres, just 297 metres short of Ruapehu's summit. If granted, the increase would give Turoa a vertical rise of almost 900 metres. Turoa Managing Director Tony Wright said the skifield needs to look at the higher altitudes for skiing area because of the general warming up of the climate, causing a rise in the snow line. Submissions on the supply of energy to the skifield would be concemed

with a connection to the national grid to supply electricity to run lifts and for restaurants. The present management plan requires all cables to be buried, but this would be prohibitive in terms of cost, according to Mr Wright. He said to have all lines buried would cost more than $1 million, while an aerial cable supply would cost half that amount.