THE WAIRAKEI PARKS COMMITTEE 1991
SUBJECT: CRATERS OF THE MOON - CARPARK SECURITY
Report of the Moon Trust Organiser, J.R. Nash to the Committee
HISTORIC BACKGROUND
In April, concerned at the detriment to Taupo’s image by the continuing break-ins to vehicles at the Craters of the Moon car park a public appeal was launched through Radio Lakeland to seek volunteers to man a kiosk to provide passive security at the car park. As a consequence of this appeal, some 40 citizens volunteered to man a caravan on the site on a half day basis during daylight hours. Various service clubs were contacted who indicated their support.
SERVICE COMMENCEMENT
On the 11th May 1991, with the loan of the Taupo Moana Rotary Club caravan and a tow—vehicle from Al Auto. Taupo New World donated an initial stock of snacks and drinks.
SERVICE INTERRUPTION
Nil. Continuous service has been provided since the start of the operation. There was a late start (lO..3Oam) on 11 June 1991 to fit the cellular phone.
OPERATION PROCEDURE
The operation has continued since with each day of the week being covered by two volunteers with the operation usually commencing between 8.3Oam and 9.OOam and finishing between 4.l5pm and 4.45pm when the last visitor’s car has left the car park. Visitors to the car park over the period
totalled 2341 numbers and a day schedule is attached showing the pattern of attendances and identifying weekends and public holidays.
COMMUNICATION
Initially communications were to be provided by a back—pack lent by the Police Department which unfortunately proved inoperative on the day and a hand held cellular phone was lent for some 3 weeks. A car phone (cellular) has now been donated courtesy of American Express, Motorola and Lite Electronics of Taupo and is giving very adequate contact.
EFFECT OF SERVICE
During the period of passive presence, there have been no break-ins to cars at the Craters of the Moon car park and as a result of the-Transport Department being alerted an apprehension of violent driving offenders in the old area of the Craters car park was made. Whilst there was a reported break-in at the Craters of the Moon this was not at the car park and was in fact on the old track to the Craters which has now been superseded but which is still used as an alternative access to the Craters, and also for recreational access.
PERATION WITH PARK OFFICIALS
This has been most gratifying on an ad hoc basis, pending approval by your committee. It is planned to shortly have an information seminar under the auspices of the Department of Conservation to enable the volunteers to become familiar with the flora and fauna of the Park, it’s natural features and it’s history, the Park’s purposes and how to deal with emergencies and visitor contact.
SERVICES PROVIDED
As indicated there has been a basic stock of snacks and hot and cold drinks available at the caravan and this has produced a small but quite satisfactory turnover. Brochures of activities and services around Taupo are being made available to visitors and to the best of the volunteers’ ability, visitors’ queries are answered.
FINANCIAL DATA
The operation has been largely initiated by a donation of services from the business community. Donations have been requested from visitors but not emphasised. Presently some $1,900.00 in sales and donations have been forthcoming with the ratio being 44% donations and 56% sales.
MATTERS TO BE ADDRESSED
1. Signs — At present signs have been handled on an ad hoc basis and if the committee approve, consideration is requested to have an Official Park sign advising of the free service available which will make the operation look more professional. This also by inference warns visitors of the need to be cautious with their vehicles if there is no volunteer on duty. Some vehicles have simply driven through the car park without stopping. They may have been “sussing the joint” or thought a charge was due.
2. Vehicle movement — We have had loss of enthusiasm from some volunteers, amongst the more elderly with the need to drive a vehicle with caravan from the storage area in the Ministry of Works compound to the site in the morning and to return it at night. This is a problem that is not immediately resolvable, nor is the problem of adjusting transport when the changeover of volunteers happens at midday.
3. Boredom and cold of volunteers — the latter has been addressed by the acquisition of a gas-fired heater in the caravan but the boredom problem is not easily resolvable and it will become greater as the visits to the Craters diminishes over the colder winter months — when the passive presence is most necessary — few -vehicles means a greater vulnerability.
FUTURE PLANNING
As to the problems mentioned above I see the great need to continue momentum for the volunteers and to give them a focus to which they can aim. The support from the Department of Conservation in providing the information seminars is greatly appreciated but I would request as a matter of the urgency that the committee consider an erection of a permanent information building at the Craters car park. The Department of Conservation have made available to me your concept plans and I am confident that I can achieve funding to have erected free of cost to the Park the information centre shown as a joint feature between the two toilets except for the precast concrete panels from Hastings at an estimated cost of $6,000.00 delivered.
I appreciate that only one toilet is presently there but any building erected would be in line with the overall concept and in the construction materials already established in the existing toilet erection. This would make it vandal proof provided that the roof cladding was sufficiently robust. With the provision of roller doors at the front to protect the glass I am optimistic that the property would be made secure during the hours of non—attendance.
I would note that it would require some re—landscaping of the area to ensure oversight of the car park would continue. As water is onsite, the other facilities such as lighting and heating can be affected through natural gas. There would be 12 volt power required to power the cellular phone which will either be by battery or by linkage to the volunteer’s car using the cigarette lighter connection.
