16 March 2018

Media: Te Kaea

Topic: Freedom camping discussion

Enquiry

Mayor Chadwick was interviewed by Te Kaea (Maori Television) regarding freedom camping and the hui [Mayoral Forum] she attended in Wellington. Two questions were asked:

• What is Rotorua's position on freedom camping?
• What were some of the things you picked up when you met with Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis to talk about freedom camping?

Response

Mayor Chadwick made the following points:

What is Rotorua's position on freedom camping?

• We've been a tourism destination for more than 170 years
• We manage freedom camping rather than using rules and regulations to enforce a bylaw
• We don't have a bylaw
• We like to work on signage detailing where they can go and designated parks that are self-contained and others we encourage to go to the wonderful parks/ holiday parks we have
• Interestingly at Lake Ōkareka, the community with DoC manage freedom camping and use the money they get to put into infrastructure like boardwalks and maintaining ablution blocks

What were some of the things you picked up when you met with Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis to talk about freedom camping?

• Nationally we're very inconsistent with the way we apply the freedom camping act
• I heard loud and clear that it's no longer freedom camping - it's costing local authorities money in infrastructure to welcome campers into their communities
• Some districts are trying to enforce a bylaw with a $200 penalty for breaching their bylaws - which costs more to recoup money
• Pleased Minister Davis is listening to us (31 of us at the meeting with different views who said we need to set up a working party)

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Media: Rotorua Daily Post

Topic: Westbrook netball courts upgrade

Enquiry

A reporter sought comment from council on its involvement with the court upgrade at Westbrook and posed the following questions:

My understanding, (from a previous RDP story) is that the revamp was expected to cost between $1.2 million and $1.5m and the council had contributed $489,000 for phase one in the 2015-25 Long term Plan. the story said costs for the second phase were yet to be confirmed.

I also read council was working with Netball Rotorua to help design the courts.

So maybe council could provide:

• Comment on what involvement they had.
• How much council contributed overall
• And why the upgrade is welcome

Response

The development of the Westbrook netball courts was a result of a submission to the 2012-22 Long-term Plan and following cost assessments Council resolved to reseal the courts, change the layout and number of courts, improve drainage and upgrade the lighting.

Council has worked alongside Netball Rotorua who played a major role in the early design of the refurbished courts.

The project is being undertaken in two stages to accommodate the netball seasons.

Stage one

- civil work including upgrading drainage, extending footprint and retaining walls

- resurface premier courts

- install new and upgrade existing lights

- new netball poles on the premier courts

Stage two

- resurface non-premier courts and new poles

The total cost of the project is expected to be $1.58 million which will be split over the two stages (between 2015 - 2019). Council has contributed a total of $570,000 for the completed civil works to extend the footprint of the facility and upgrade drainage.

External funding from a number of trusts and organisations has been sourced to cover the other two thirds of the full project cost with Netball Rotorua fundraising to contribute a large portion also. Some external funding is still to be sourced to complete the second stage of the upgrade.

From Rotorua Lakes Councillor and Sport and Recreation Portfolio Lead Charles Sturt -

This upgrade is part of our efforts to ensure that our community has great recreational spaces that cater to the needs of our district. Netball has always played a key role in our community, both in keeping the sport alive and strong in Rotorua and in contributing to the local economy through the hugely popular annual Kurangaituku tournament which brings thousands here from around the country across three weekends every year. Council staff have worked closely with Netball Rotorua to ensure these improvements cater to what's needed to ensure this is a facility that meets the needs of the sport now and into the future.

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Media: Rotorua Daily Post

Topic: Comments regarding Auditor General request

Enquiry

• Is the council considering taking legal action over Reynold's comments, if they do breach the confidentiality agreement?
• Has the council been in contact with Reynold regarding his comments?
• Does the council have any comment it wishes to make about Reynold's approach to the Auditor General?

Response

From Manager of the CE's Office, Craig Tiriana:

Mr Macpherson has raised a matter with the office of the Auditor General and any questions regarding that process should be directed to the Auditor General.

However, Council remains confident the matter was dealt with in the appropriate manner and will abide by the terms of the settlement that saw Mr Macpherson abandon his court case relating to the 2016 mayoralty result. Council is monitoring the situation and will seek legal advice as appropriate.

It may be useful to clarify that while the mayor and elected members were named as respondents in the legal action taken by Mr Macpherson, it was in effect the organisation that was being challenged. The majority of councillors authorised the organisation to instruct council lawyers to respond to Mr Macpherson's petition on behalf of Rotorua Lakes Council, and in these circumstances it was appropriate the cost of the response, and the internal work associated with it, be met by Rotorua Lakes Council.

Mr Williams was joined to Council's legal response in his own name, acting in his capacity as chief executive and it was entirely appropriate that Rotorua Lakes Council, as his employer, met the costs associated with his independent legal advice and representation.