Ohakune Mt Road control unresolved

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 251, 19 July 1988, Page 16

Ohakune Mt Road control unresolved

Who pays the extra costs of controlling the Ohakune Mountain Road has become a problem for the District Council. The maximum the Department of Conservation has estimated for traffic control of the road through the ski season is $50,628, while the council has

available only $40,000. At the end of the ski season the total charged is based on actual costs rather than a contract price. This means if the road needs controlling less due to a poor snow year the cost would be less. The Council hopes to be granted the extra money needed from the National Roads Board which meets i n November, after the ski season. District Engineer Don Sattler told the Works and Reserves Committee last week that council could apply for a transfer o f funds to cover the extra from the $286,000 available for the Moun tain Road maintenance. District Manager John Murrihy asked where the money would

come from if the transfer was refused. "I've never come across a situation where a transfer has been refused but what happens if it is refused?," asked the district Manager. "If $50,000 was spent and we weren't given that extra $10,000 who is going to fund it?" "I'm sure Turoa Skifields would like the option perhaps of providing the service themselves," said Cr Workman. He said they probably thought they could administer the road at less cost. Results Wednesday July 13 North-South G . Fraser/H. Cranston 60.8%, 2nd B. T e Karu/B. Tumataroa 57.2%. East-West 1st B. Eades/R. Frew 58.8%, 2nd E. GoMfinch/J. Cranston 55.4%.

"There may very well be a conflict of interest there in that Turoa may want to keep the road open longer than is possibly safe to do so and ultimately it's the council's responsibility," said Mr Murrihy. He said it was in Turoa Skifield's interests to keep the road open and suggested the council ask the company if it was prepared to pay the extra. Mr Sattler told the committee Turoa did want to put forward an estimate, also, that DoC have said' they could work within a $40,000 budget but that they would have to reduce staff levels and downgrade the traffic control. The committee decided to call a meeting of the Ohakune Mountain Road Committee to try to resolve the problem.