Big tourist complex for Karamea?

Press, 17 December 1985, Page 2

Big tourist complex for Karamea?

Westport reporter A Wanganui man plans to build a |1.5 million tourist complex at Karamea. Mr W. J. Rathgen, owner of Linton Development, a property development comE based in Wanganui, Knight several hectares of land in the centre of Karamea on which to build the complex. The area faces on to Wharf. Road. He wants the Government to declare Karamea a national tourist area. The proposed complex includes a motor hotel and motel, a restaurant, arts and crafts shop, and there will be provision for camper vans and caravans. The complex will have 140 beds, comprising 10 single motel units sleeping four and 10 double units sleeping six. A further 40

will be available in A-frame units. There are two stages in the ' development of the complex, the first involving the building of the motel units, restaurant and camping ground. Mr Rathgen is concerned mainly about the access to Karamea and with the limitations of the air service and runway. ’ He said that Christchurch to Karamea was shorter than Christchurch to Queenstown and he hoped to make Karamea' a viable alternative to Queenstown. Mr Rathgen is strongly in support of the Buller County Council’s proposed northern outlet and he feels that it would not only benefit his company but the whole of the West Coast.