17 April 2017

Media: Rotorua Daily Post

Topic: Paradise Valley Driveway

Inquiry

I am working on a follow up story to the Paradise Valley slips which wiped out driveways and closed the road five weeks ago.

- Who is legally responsible for maintaining the Paradise Valley Stream bed when it's on public property?

- Who is legally responsible for maintaining the culverts that are on public property?

- Who is legally responsible for maintaining berms in rural areas?

- If a property's boundary ends adjacent to the stream bed, whose job is it to maintain the culvert beneath their driveway?

- Why were the small slips into Paradise Valley stream not cleared prior to the incident on Sunday March 12?

- Who is responsible for clearing slips on public property in Paradise Valley?

- We understand an Upper Valley catchment group were created 6 months ago. They wanted permission to maintain the stream bed themselves and were told they'd be prosecuted if they were seen in it, is this correct?

- What level of responsibility are you taking for the damage to people's property?

- There are residents who are walking 45 minutes for their children to get to the school bus daily, are you doing anything to help them gain access to their properties?

- Residents have complained that previous fixes to the valley were "el cheapo, short term" fixes. What is your response to this?

Response

From Rotorua Lakes Council transport, waste and waters director Stavros Michael:

Council has responsibility for managing the road corridor. Driveways off the road corridor, including the likes of culverts which are supporting driveways, are the responsibility of the private property owners.

Despite that, Council has been working with the owners of these Paradise Valley properties to see how we can help them to re-establish access to their properties.

We will continue to work directly with them.

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