17 June 2020
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Rotorua CBD post-COVID lockdown
Enquiry
I'm working on a story about the state of the CBD post-Covid, in particular the empty store fronts, and would like some comment from the mayor.
- What are your thoughts on the current state of the CBD?
- How many of the empty stores in the CBD do you think can be blamed on Covid and lockdown?
- Empty shops have long been an issue in the CBD. Some say the area is now too big for its purpose. Do you agree and would you consider ways to downsize the area?
- This is not a problem unique to Rotorua. What do you think the city could be doing to make the CBD more appealing to retail, in particular to bigger chains and franchises so they choose us over other regional cities?
- Do you believe enough is being done to attract and retain business in the CBD? If yes, why, if no, why not?
Response
From Mayor Steve Chadwick:
The CBD is a complex neighbourhood with many different stakeholders - from property owners to business owners and operators - and Council has a role to bring all different views into a cohesive effort or plan for improvement.
The CBD has been a concern for several years and COVID-19 has added further challenges.
The work of the CBD sector group, established as part of Rotorua's Build Back Better economic recovery strategy, will give us a better understanding of what's now needed and how Council can contribute.
I can't speak for businesses or the decisions they make, but we know COVID-19 has had a big impact and will do for some time. We have yet to understand the full impact across our district and will need to remain flexible in how we respond to new and emerging challenges and opportunities.
I've been impressed with the ability of many of our businesses to find new ways of operating and connecting with customers - establishing online offerings, introducing home deliveries and innovating to provide different products or offerings.
Council's spatial plan identified that the commercial footprint of our CBD is too big and there is support for development of inner city housing - but we can't tell owners what to do with their properties so how we incentivise that is a challenge we need to overcome.
The lakefront upgrade is an important component for a vibrant and connected inner city.
The CBD functionality review approved last year to look at how people and traffic move around the inner city and consider options for change in that respect, will be linked up with other proposals for future improvements.
I would encourage local business people who are struggling or need help or advice to connect with Rotorua Economic Development (RED) to help them navigate their way through.
Additional note for reporter: I'm not sure if you've seen the 2019 Telfer Young CBD vacancy survey, released a couple of months ago? That's an independent survey that's carried out every year and provides a picture of the CBD as at December of each year. It will give you an indication of what was happening in our CBD in December 2019 which may be helpful for your story. You'll find it HERE on Telfer Young's website
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Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: Shovel-ready projects submitted for Government funding
Enquiry
Kia ora, We have someone claiming Rotorua's eight shovel-ready projects have been declined. Can you clarify if this is correct? I suspect it hasn't actually been exhaustively announced yet but if you can please shed some light on if /when we will know whether they've been accepted by CIP [Crown Infrastructure Partners] that would be very helpful.
Response
The following clarification was provided:
Your source is ill-informed and incorrect.
If your source is speculating based on 11 shovel-ready' projects that were announced 15 June, those are ones that will go through RMA fast-tracking (as part of the COVID-19 Recovery (Fast-track) Bill being introduced in the House this week).
As elected members were informed (by JP) during the last O&M Committee meeting (public section), RLC did not put any CIP projects forward for consideration for RMA fast-tracking as we are working with partners.
As elected members have also been informed (I think this was during the last Full Council meeting - again by JP), all projects submitted by RLC have made it through the first stage of consideration and we are continuing to work with Government officials.
Timing of decisions and announcements will be determined by the Government, not RLC.
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Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: TERAX
Enquiry
As part of a raft of questions recently answered regarding the TERAX project, following Council's decision two years ago to wind it up, the reporter asked how much in total RLC invested in the project.
*NOTE: this enquiry is the latest in a series of enquiries dating back to August 2019 re TERAX decision of July 2018
Response
Clarifying response to this question: How much total did RLC receive from the Government for this project, and from which ministries/dept/agencies/bodies?
From Chief Financial Officer Thomas Coll: $1.7m was received from MfE between 2012/13 and 1015/16 for the pilot plant that operated at the wastewater treatment plant.
A subsequent approved $4.7m grant from MfE's Waste Minimisation fund was ultimately not used by RLC as the project was delayed and the grant expired.
Remaining question:What has the council invested in the project to date? [Can you please, if applicable, separate investment on the technology from investment in the partnership to commercialise the technology?]
Council invested a total $6.7m in the various aspects of the TERAX project. That includes the $1.3m on the partnership set up to commercialise the technology (as previously provided to [Rotorua Daily Post] in August 2019)
Note: Council funding stopped in 2017
