Twizel plans ‘going ahead’

Press, 13 February 1982, Page 1

Twizel plans ‘going ahead’

Plans to turn Twizel into a tourist resort are going ahead, according to the second Australian businessman who says that he wants to develop the town. Mr Robert Snowden has said from Brisbane that the board of his company, Guideline Holdings International, had approved a proposal to buy the Government hydro construction town. Earlier this month he spent three days inspecting the town and said that he expected to make a firm offer to the Government within the next three weeks. “Unless we get Government approval, it is pointless,” he said. Mr Snowden, aged 43, has arranged to meet Air New Zealand management in Brisbane next week to discuss flight arrangements for bringing overseas tourists into Twizel. The Auckland head office of Air New Zealand was unaware of any dealings with Mr Snowden. The airline’s Queensland manager, Mr Mike Kernaghan, said that an associate of Mr Snowden

had approached him to arrange a “chat” next. week. The appointment had not yet been confirmed. Little is known in New Zealand about the background of Guideline Holdings, which is not listed in the Brisbane telephone directory. Mr Snowden said that the company, which dealt mainly in advertising work, was listed under his own name in the directory because it wanted to keep a low profile. In a series of telephone interviews over the last two days, Mr Snowden said that houses in Twizel would be turned into tourist chalets, an international-class hotel would be built, and the local airport expanded to handle overseas tour groups. At least $22 million was needed to buy the town and start development, but Guideline Holdings had enough finance in Brisbane without going to Vickers, an associated English company, he said. Last week Mr Snowden said that the British

Vickers firm was providing finance.

In London on Thursday, the manager of the Vickers, Ltd, International Group, Mr Douglas Grocock, said that he knew nothing of Guideline Holdings and had not heard of Mr Snowden or Twizel. . Mr Snowden said subsequently that his company was only an off-shoot from Vickers.

A newspaper report linking him with an Australian entrepreneur, Mr Howard Hall, might make some people sceptical, said Mr Snowden. He was “upset” at any suggestion that they were “mates.” He had bought the Twizel idea and background information from Mr Hall, he said, after Mr Hall made two unsuccessful offers to buy the town. “The scepticism is something that ruined Howard Hall,” he said. Too much publicity had also been a reason for Mr Hall’s failure. Mr Snowden said that his own plans were not advanced enough to enable him to give more specific details.

St Albans Real Estate, which acted as New Zealand agent for Mr Hall, is prepared to help Mr Snowden find investors for a hotel development. The managing director of the Christchurch firm, Mr D. H. Warner, said that the logic of the proposal seemed sound, but one of his estate agents on holiday in Australia would be paying a “courtesy” call on Mr Snowden. Mr Snowden has said that St Albans Real Estate would not be involved in any development plans.

The chairman of the Mackenzie County Council, Mr B. J. O’Neill, said this week that he had no idea what Mr Snowden planned for Twizel. but he would want to see the $22 million first. The Government has already rejected a council proposal to save the town. Mr P. S. Phillips, the generaT manager of the Mount Cook Group, which runs air and coach services to the area, is dubious about the Australian offer. “He has not been in touch with us,” he said. —