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Opening of new building

JAMES MAXWELL)

(By

The Mackenzie County is a vast area of 80,000 hectares, rising from just above sea level up to the summit of Mt Cook, and embracing some of the best farming country in the world to dry tussock and scree slopes where only merinos and deer can survive.

In the last century, there has been little economic change. In the last decade, there has been a new awakening to the sale of the scenic grandeur and the need for diversification. At the same time, the Ministry of Works and Development moved in

and transformed the landscape with new canals snaking across the country and new lakes and hydro power stations. The town of Twizel has lived on, has merged into the county’s economy and is becoming a force to be reckoned with as its capital value increases.

The county council suddenly found its usual leisurely monthly meetings becoming marathons of eight and nine hours, with lots of committee meetings in between. Beside the existing Fairlie community council, two more off-shoots were - formed in Tekapo and Twizel. These community councils have monthly meetings which extend till midnight and later, such is their sundry business, which takes the load from the central council.

Where once the county clerk, Mr Brian Dwyer, coped on his own, he now has a deputy and administration officer who, between them, have to record all the minutes and generally answer a thousand questions by phone and letter a month.

With this huge workload in mind one has to wonder how this could ever possibly be coped with by a central body down country if amalgamation were introduced. This does not seem likely, however, for tomorrow Dr Michael Bassett will perform the opening ceremony of a grand new county administration building in Fairlie. This signifies that the county is moving into the twenty-first century with a positive attitude to the future.

The cost of this impressive new building is in the region of $913,000 and the money comes from the county’s real estate proceeds without affecting the rates or loans money.

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19860724.2.142.2

Bibliographic details

Press, 24 July 1986, Page 32

Word Count
349

Opening of new building Press, 24 July 1986, Page 32

Opening of new building Press, 24 July 1986, Page 32