Twizel inn move draws complaint

Press, 3 August 1983, Page 3

Twizel inn move draws complaint

An Omarama motel proirietor is concerned that Ministry of Works houses in Twizel have become an extension of the Mackenzie Country Inn, without having to comply with hotel-motel fire and health regulations. Mr Rob Perriam, who runs the Omarama Motor Lodge, has taken his comilaint to the Minister of Works and Development, Mr Friedlander.

The Ministry of Works is responsible for sub-letting to the hotel, and its project engineer at Twizel, Mr Bill Bailey, confirmed that the inn had been allowed to lease houses. He said that the houses had to comply to normal house fire and health requirements, but he did not want to prejudge the Minister’s reply to Mr Perriam’s complaint. The issue arose when the

inn began advertising houses for $35 a night. They sleep up to seven people, but offer no cooking facilities. Mr Perriam said that there was already a surplus of beds in the area, including the Ministry’s own motor camp cabins at Ruataniwha and at the Hermitage. Hotel and motel keepers in the district paid large sums to promote the region’s ski-ing facilities. Others were reaping the benefit, Mr Perriam said.

The Tourist Hotel Corporation sold the inn last year to a New Plymouth buyer, because it thought it would have no further use for it.

Mr Perriam was concerned that the firm was now taking away his business.