Waimarino Transfer Station Now Open Seven Days with New Winter Hours

The Waimarino Transfer Station in Ohakune has started its new winter hours of 8.00am to 3.00pm seven days per week until the close of the Turoa ski field.

Ruapehu District Council (RDC) Communications Manager, Paul Wheatcroft, said that the change to the winter hours was to try and balance the needs of local residents with the high number of seasonal visitors that come to Ohakune over winter.

“Finding the ideal fit between refuse and recycling services and community needs in a tourist town with high numbers of visitors is extremely challenging,” he said.

“Council had trialed the 8.00am to 3.00pm hours last year but found that having summer and winter hours better suited community needs.”

“Besides the change to the opening hours the Waimarino Transfer Station will also be open seven days per week.”

Mr Wheatcroft said that over previous winters council found that the problem of people dumping refuse outside the Transfer Station gates afterhours had been getting steadily worse.

“The introduction of the winter hours and being open seven days assisted to alleviate this issue,” he said.

“Visitors typically want to use the Transfer Station services at the end of their stay.”

“Most rental properties have a 10.00am check out and many visitors plan to drive straight home after a day’s skiing on their last day.”

“The earlier 8.00am opening time is designed to fit in with these needs and allows them to drop their recycling and refuse off first thing in the morning before going up the mountain for the day.”

Mr Wheatcroft said that unfortunately not having unlimited resources at our disposal means council cannot afford to simply increase the number of hours the Transfer Station is open for every week.”
“Any increase in the levels-of-service provided adds to the operating costs of the Transfer Station that inevitably flow on back to the ratepayer.”

Mr Wheatcroft noted that finding ways to get visitors to dispose of their refuse and recycling responsibly and contribute toward their fair share for the services and infrastructure they use is an issue for all tourist towns.

“Over winter council increases the amount of education on the available services and hours of operation.”

With high volumes of new people coming through town all the time this has to be continually repeated which is expensive.”

Mr Wheatcroft added that kerbside rubbish and recycling collection in Ohakune, Rangataua and Raetihi remains the same on every Monday.

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