14 February 2020
Media: Rotorua Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: Aquatic Centre grandstand
Enquiry
I'm working on a story today for the paper tomorrow about how the Rotorua Aquatic Centre is to demolish its 50 m grandstand.
I've asked some questions of them, too so there may be some they are best placed to answer and some best for the council.
What I'm trying to find out is:
What the structural issues are and how long they've existed?
Were those issues ever a threat to the public using that grandstand?
How they were discovered?
Were they discovered by CLM or the council?
When the grandstand will be removed?
How much will it cost to remove? Will that be a council cost?
How does this fit in to the council's work to upgrade the facility? Are these things related?
Any other information the council believes is relevant/wishes to point out.
Response
From Sport, Recreation and Environment Manager Rob Pitkethley:
The wooden grandstand next to the 50m pool at Rotorua Aquatic Centre was removed due to concerns about its structural integrity.
The structure is almost 50 years old and was not built to modern building standards. While no threats to safety had been raised previously, Council has been aware for some time that the grandstand would soon require either removal or replacement.
The grandstand has been closed since early this year while contractors assessed potential repair work. As no contractor would guarantee their work without full replacement of the structure, Rotorua Lakes Council made the decision to remove the structure.
The grandstand was not originally included in the masterplan for the overall Aquatic Centre redevelopment project however, this presents a good opportunity to look at the space and how it can be integrated into the upcoming upgrades.
In the meantime the site will be tidied up and shade sails will be erected so the space can be used for extra seating.
Information:
- The grandstand was built in 1972.
- The cost of the removal work is $10,000. This includes demolishing the structure and removal of the materials, remedial work for the concrete slab and the new poles and shades.
- CLM manages the Rotorua Aquatic Centre on behalf of Council. They are responsible for day-to-day maintenance while Council is responsible for decisions and maintenance of the facility itself
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Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Methamphetamine court case
Enquiry
Reporter sought comment from the mayor and/or Cr Donaldson given his policing background regarding methamphetamine to run alongside a story about the sentencing of a man involved in a significant meth dealing case in court today. Reporter sought comment as follows:
Around why it's important to get this drug off our streets and the social damage it creates.
Obviously you can't speak to the work police are doing but you may like to acknowledge their work too.
Info re the case:
A man found with more than $135 million worth of methamphetamine will spend 13 years and nine months in prison.
Lionel James Ruka McDonald had 137.5kg of the drug in packages in his vehicle and in storage units, when Rotorua police executed search warrants in Fairy Springs on August 14 and 15 last year.
Response
From Mayor Steve Chadwick:
This drug is a scourge in our country and the resultant behaviour causes much community disquiet and fear.
Our police do a great job in Rotorua in dealing with the impacts of drugs locally and in partnership with Council's community safety work.
We all loathe the impact on families and the disruption caused in people's lives and in the wider community.
