14 July 2017
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Minister Smith visit - Special Housing Accord
Inquiry
Rotorua Daily Post requested official comment following the meeting between Rotorua Lakes Council and Minister Nick Smith regarding the Special Housing Accord announced by the Government.
Response
Deputy Mayor and Economic Development portfolio lead Dave Donaldson:
Minister Smith and our local MP Todd McClay recognise the pressures Rotorua faces due to the growth we are experiencing and the accord is a positive first step to addressing those challenges.
The aim of the accord will be to help facilitate an increase in land and housing supply in Rotorua and it will be tailored to Rotorua's specific challenges and opportunities.
The Accord gives us access to legislation that will enable us to speed up the processes involved in consenting and District Plan rezoning so the hope is it will act as an incentive for developers and landowners to proceed with planned developments.
It won't just apply to large areas for development either - even small areas big enough for only a few lots can be declared special housing areas' under the accord and that means we can be quite nimble in terms of opening up land.
Group Manager Strategy and Partnerships Jean-Paul Gaston:
Council staff, with input from elected members, will now work with Government officials on the framework for the accord which will be tailored to Rotorua's situation. The accord will set out the relationship, principles and understanding between council and Government, detail Rotorua's specific challenges, the purpose of the accord, outcomes sought and actions to be taken.
We want to do this as quickly as possible so that the accord can go in front of Parliament for its approval before the House goes into recess in August (ahead of the elections).
The accord will enable Council to recommend areas for special housing area status which the Government then needs to approve. Special legislation applies to approved special housing areas, enabling consenting and, where required, rezoning of land, to be fast-tracked.
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Media: Rotorua Review
Topic: Strategy, Policy & Finance committee meeting follow up - land development
Inquiry
On the topic of land for development he [Jean-Paul Gaston] said council had been "talking for some time" about surplus reserves, to quote:
"a look at surplus reserves, and obviously council has been talking about that for some time, surplus crown land and other land that might provide some opportunities for land development."
To that end I wanted to confirm council is considering some type of rezoning of some reserves to allow development on the land?
Can you tell me which reserves have been identified as surplus, or alternatively how many?
Can you tell me something about the process that results in a reserve being deemed surplus?
Response
From Group Manager Strategy and Partnerships Jean-Paul Gaston:
To date no reserves have been recommended or put up for sale.
There is an ongoing programme to sell surplus assets - including residential and commercial properties, reserves and vacant land - and use the proceeds to fund capital works and repay debt. Selling vacant land and/or reserves also provides opportunities to free up land for development.
During the past few years the council has sold a number of properties which were purchased for strategic purposes (e.g. Victoria expressway) but subsequently became surplus to requirements.
Property determined to be surplus to requirements is recommended for sale. Any sales need to be approved by Council and in some instances may also require approval from agencies like the Department of Conservation and public consultation.
Reserves are vested in Council (eg as part of subdivisions) or purchased by the council for: use as community recreational areas or facilities (eg parks), to provide access to a council facility (eg water pump station) or a community area (eg a recreational area or waterway), to protect a surrounding area or waterway from erosion; or for strategic purposes like roading projects.
A property may be recommended for sale if it is under-utilised; no longer used at all; or no longer used or required for its intended purpose, provided it has no cultural or heritage significance
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Media: Rotorua Review
Topic: Special Housing Accord
Inquiry
Rotorua Review requested comment from Mayor Chadwick or Deputy Mayor Dave Donaldson about the meeting between Council and Minister Nick Smith regarding the Special Housing Accord.
Firstly I wanted to ask Steve how she felt the meeting went?
Does she believe the Accord will result in more houses in Rotorua, and built quicker?
Lastly, can she give any indication as to when the Accord may be in place?
Response
From Deputy Mayor Dave Donaldson:
Our meeting with Minister Smith was constructive and we look forward to working with the Government. This is a positive first step to addressing the challenges of the growth Rotorua is experiencing and helping us to open up land for development.
The accord will be tailored to the specific challenges and opportunities for Rotorua and the main aim is to help facilitate an increase in land and housing supply. We will have access to legislation that will enable us to speed up the processes involved in consenting and District Plan rezoning so we think it will act as an incentive for developers and landowners to go ahead with developments they may have been planning but haven't yet decided to proceed with.
We'll be able to open up small as well as large developments. Under the accord legislation even small areas big enough for only a few lots can be declared 'special housing areas'.
Council staff, with input from elected members, will now work with Government officials on the framework for the accord which will set out the relationship, principles and understanding between council and the Government, detail Rotorua's challenges, the purpose of the accord, outcomes sought and actions to be taken. We want to get the accord before Parliament for its approval before the House goes into recess in August (ahead of the elections).
