News this week that a private company is interested in purchasing Ruapehu’s Turoa Ski Field should be viewed with caution.
That’s according to a local stakeholder’s group which wants to keep both Turoa and Whakapapa skifields in the hands of a single non-profit-making company.
A spokesperson for the Ruapehu Skifields Stakeholders Association (RSSA), Sam Clarkson, said in his view the national park was not the place for a private company to set up their ski operation.
“Turoa was privately owned and for profit before RAL took it over, but that model had failed and I can’t see how it would work now.
“A private corporation can only make money by putting prices up or getting more bums (on ski lifts); I can’t see how they could possibly succeed,” Sam said.
In October last year, Ruapehu Alpine Lifts (RAL), which operates the Whakapapa and Turoa skifields went into voluntary administration carrying $45 million of debt. Thanks to Government grants it has remained open with the intention of operating both skifields this winter.
Several groups have apparently expressed an interest in taking over one or both skifields, one being Turoa Alpine Ltd, which is said to be a consortium of residents, local businesses, regional businesses and nationwide benefactors.
A spokesperson for this group, John Sandford, could not be contacted yesterday.
But Sam, whose group has the vision of a non-profit running both fields, owned by skiers, ski clubs and local businesses, said there would be better economies of scale by keeping the two skifields under common ownership.
“Our local stake holders’ group is confident that it will be able to raise the cash grants required to form a non-profit to keep the two skifields together. It would be run by skiers for skiers.
“We are surveying life pass holders, the clubbies and local businesses. Most of them are keen. They are prepared to put up the cash, provided there is a sound financial and environmental plan.”
The administrators of RAL will shed more light on who is the front runner to take over the skifields when they report to RAL creditors, including life ski pass holders, on May 1.
