'Road is not an issue' for director

Recently-appointed Westland District Property director Graeme Purches is not committing publicly to a view on the Haast-Hollyford highway proposal.

His appointment as one of two new directors on the board of the Westland District Council-owned company was announced yesterday by Westland Holdings Ltd chairman Graeme King.

The appointment was for up to one year while the council and holding company undertook ''a review of the group structure'', Mr King said.

Westland Property is promoting the idea of a 127km toll road from Haast to the Hollyford Valley to improve tourism links between Milford Sound and the West Coast.

But speaking to the Otago Daily Times yesterday, Mr Purches declined to commit himself on the road project.

''It's not about the road. It's a property company and there's a whole lot of other stuff that they are doing.

''I'm not there because I want to build a road. I'm there as a director.

''To me, the road is not an issue.''

Asked if he was likely to get involved with a company promoting a road if he did not agree with it being built, Mr Purches said: ''There are a lot of people who get involved at director level with companies who may not necessarily agree with everything the company does.

''The role of a director is one of governance. It's not one of management.''

Mr Purches said the council had been looking for ''an experienced director with comms experience'' and ''I happen to know a few of the people''.

''I've got a good relationship with the Westland District Council and they asked me if I would be prepared to step up and become a director for 12 months.''

Mr King said there had been a ''speedy recruitment process'' and Mr Purches brought ''a wealth of experience'' gained through his role as community relations manager for TrustPower.

Hokitika Airport Ltd director Les Singer has also been appointed to the board and property company chairman Durham Havill had agreed to be re-appointed ''to assist us in that review process'', Mr King said.

Mr Havill and the property company's two other directors, Hugh Little and Sue Merriman, resigned last month, reportedly because of a lack of public support for the road in parts of Westland.

mark.price@odt.co.nz

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