21 July 2017

Media: Rotorua Review

Topic: Hamurana Reserve redevelopment

Inquiry

I noticed a post on Charles Sturt's Facebook page, posted on Wednesday:

"Just got back from Hamurana ratepayers agm and excited about the proposal to develop Hamurana reserve which are on council website tomorrow. You have s chance to comment on proposals so please do. It's a well loved used reserve for school kindy picnic freedom campers fisherman etc so have your say online direct to council."

I wanted to ask whether any more info on this may be pending as I haven't been able to find anything on the council website?

Response

• Rotorua Lakes Councils Sport and Recreation team have met with the Hamurana/Awahou Residents and Ratepayer Association to present concept plans for the proposed development of the Hamurana Reserve.
• During the next month, Council will be sending correspondence to Hamurana/Awahou residents giving them the opportunity to provide feedback.
• The wider community will also be able to have their say using Council's online engagement hub Let's Talk/Korero Mai. It is expected that the information will be online before the end of August.
• Information and feedback from the residents and ratepayer group and the community will then be reviewed and plans finalised.

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Media: Rotorua Daily Post

Topic: Importance of learning to swim

Inquiry

Here are the questions below we were hoping to get comment from the Rotorua Lakes Swim School on, following a release sent through by Water Safety New Zealand about their Public Attitude and Behaviour Survey 2017.

- Do you think more people in Rotorua need to make sure they learn how to swim? Why/why not? Why is it important?

- Is there an equal need for adults and children to learn? Why/why not?

- Have you seen numbers increase or decrease in people coming to learn to swim over the past couple of years?

- Do you think aquatic education needs to be more of a priority? Why/why not?

Response

Here is the response from Sport and Recreation Manager Rob Pitkethley -

In Rotorua we are fortunate to be surrounded by amazing waterways and it is a huge part of Kiwi life to swim, fish and do water sports. Swimming is a valuable life skill that once learned, is never forgotten.

While we see most of our classes full with children learning to swim, we do offer adult classes at Rotorua Aquatic Centre. We want to see more adults learning how to swim because they are the role models our young people. Once an adult knows how to swim they can share their knowledge with the rest of their whanau and friends.

Numbers through our swim school classes have increased over the years but we continue to look at ways to remove the barriers preventing people learning to swim. The Making a Difference programme which was launched at the beginning of 2016 by Rotorua Lakes Swim School and Swim Rotorua has been a great success.

Last year alone more than 2000 children from 20 local schools had the opportunity to learn to swim for free.

We hope that this momentum is continued. Swimming or water activity is a large part of life for most New Zealanders and aquatic education needs to continue to be a big focus in schools and at home. One preventable drowning is too many.