We're waiting

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 242, 10 May 1988, Page 3

We're waiting

Construction of Ohakune's Big Three tourist developments seems no nearer to commencement than at the beginning of the year. Two of the three projects - The Hamlet and the railway housing residential development - were on hold at the beginning of May while developers negotiate fine details. Developers of the Railway Hotel at the Ohakune Junction could not be contacted at the time the Bulletin went to print. Hamlet developer Harvey Bell said he still holds hopes that some work will be underway by the end of the year. While Mr Bell's initial development proposal stated that work on the first stage of the project would be underway by March or April of this year, this date has been left open-ended while the positioning of chalets is finalised. The delay was not unforseen, according to Mr Bell, who said one of the bonuses of the chalets will be the panoramic mountain views. "The ground goes all over the place and it's proving difficult to place chalets," he said. "If we make mistakes in the early stages, someone is going to miss out on their view." While it is difficult to obtain information about the railway housing development, KRTA Ltd spokesman Malcolm Smith offered that his company and the New Zealand Railways Corporation are negotiating with the Development and Finance Corporation for the sale and resiting of 126 railwaysowned houses around the country. Mr Smith could not specify when development would be underway, or even if it would commence this year. The appointment of a corporate body to maintain the houses once relocated is also still undetermined, he said. Developers of The Hamlet plan to erect a 200-room hotel incorporating two restaurants, a conference centre to accommodate 400, swimming pool, gymnasium, two squash courts, two indoor tennis courts, an indoor ice skating rink and car park for 200. Included in the development are 42 own-your-own apartments and 92 timeshare chalets. Phase One of the project includes draining the site, roading and construction of some chalets, which was originially to be completed

in time for the 1988 ski season. Phase Two embraces the Hotel and construction of some apartments and more chalets. Phases Three and Four will be the completion of the project, originally by 1990. The company, The Hamlet Resort Ltd, anticipate investing $1 million in the area this year. Total cost of the project is in the region of $40 million. KRTA Ltd in partnership with the New Zealand Railways Corporation propose to establisdh a comprehensive residential development in Ruapehu Road, incorporating clusters of upgraded railways houses. The project involves the relocation of houses from outside the area on to Railway land. The units would be upgraded to ensure a consistent high standard in site development, then sold on a unit title basis. The upgraded units would be sold at a moderate price so as to be advantageous for local buyers forced out of the market by high prices. A link road from Ruapehu Road direct to the Ohakune Junction was also proposed. Out of use railway carriages will be incorporated into the theme design of the Railway Hotel at the Junction.

Developer Roy Middleton proposed spending $20 million to upgrade the existing facilities and buildings at the Junction Railway Station. Plans include the provision of restaurants and bars in existing buildings and accommodation in redun-

dant guards van ana warriages. Existing houses would be relocated, upgraded and used as apartments. Plans include conference facilities, sauna and spas, adventure playground, games room and video facilities.