22 December 2017
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Silver Oaks Hotel
Enquiry
Reporter indicated the paper had received a tip-off that Silveroaks Hotel on Fenton St is to be closed tomorrow due to a geyser/sinkhole underneath it and sought confirmation and any available details.
Response
Rotorua Lakes Council can confirm the following:
The Silver Oaks hotel is comprised of two buildings on a site which features geothermal activity. One of the buildings has been closed since late November 2017 when Council served a Dangerous Building Notice after being notified about subsidence occurring beneath the building.
Following further engineering and geotechnical investigations Council has also served a Dangerous Building Notice on the second building, which will require it to also be closed.
A portion of the second building is in close proximity to the area where subsidence is occurring. The decision to also issue a Dangerous Building Notice on this building was made due to safety risks posed by isolating that part close to the subsidence, as this would close off key safety features including exits required in the event of a fire or some other emergency.
The safety of building occupants and users is Council's key priority in any decision to issue a Dangerous Building Notice.
Experts are monitoring the situation and further geotechnical work will be required to better understand the extent of the issue.
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Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Haupapa St crossing
Enquiry
Reporter sought update on completion of raised crossing constructed outside Haupapa St library building:
-Are the works complete in that area? If not, what is left to do? What have the works involved so far?
-Has it taken longer than anticipated? If so, what were the reasons?
-Is [the library building] Te Aka Mauri still on track to open February 3?
Response
The new raised crossing on Haupapa Street outside the library building, Te Aka Mauri, is almost complete and is now open to traffic. Street lights and trees are still to be added.
The raised portion is designed to be a traffic slow zone, providing disability parking and a safe crossing area for pedestrians.
Meanwhile, work on the building, Te Aka Mauri, is progressing well and on track to the new 3 February 2018 opening date, with just carpet tiling, some painting and finishing touches to be done. The adjoining Jean Batten park is also progressing with pathways underway and play equipment being installed.
The opening of Rotorua's new library and children's health hub had to be deferred to February due to delays during the final construction phase, brought about by project contractor Fletchers experiencing problems finding sub-contractors, due to high demand for tradespeople. This pushed completion out about a month.
The project is jointly funded by Rotorua Lakes Council and the Lakes District Health Board, which will become a long-term tenant in the building, providing outpatient child health services.
Sponsorship has contributed to additional library activities and resources and to design aspects of the building.
Removal of Community House enables Jean Batten Square, between the hub and the Fenton Street iSite, to be extended to create a new community space.
Preparations for moving back to Haupapa Street are well advanced and Library Manager Jane Gilbert says library staff are looking forward to starting the moving process.
"We're all pretty excited about moving into our revamped space and especially about sharing it with the community. We're going to be able to provide additional services, some great new features and we have a lot of plans for new and improved programmes and activities. We'll also be opening on Sundays once we've moved into Te Aka Mauri - it's a great new space with the added bonus of the new park outside and we think the community are going to love it.
"We've got a great community open day planned for February 3 to mark the library's return to Haupapa Street and we look forward to a good turnout. There'll be more information about the open day after the new year."
The Pukuatua Street library will be closed from January 26 to allow for the move back to Haupapa Street.
Find out more about the project, including the design aspects of the building upgrade at THIS LINK on Council's website.
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Media: Fairfax Media
Topic: Water safety
Enquiry
We're looking at running a water safety story this weekend and I was hoping that your council would be able to let me know of any new and interesting developments/data/stats for this season? Can you also answer the following questions:
1. Are drownings up or down compared to this time last year in your region?
2. Have you spent more money on water safety campaigns? Hired more staff for the season to promote water safety?
3. Are you monitoring and or issuing fines for anybody that's not complying with the safety provisions under the Building Act about fencing rules for any pool, fixed or portable, deeper than 400mm? Or are you planning on enforcing it this season?
4. Are you perhaps also planning to ban paddle pools in camping grounds or other populated places?
Response
For drowning statistics and water safety campaigning please refer to Water Safety NZ
There are about 1650 pools on Rotorua Lakes Council's pool register and inspections are being carried out over the next three years with staff systematically working through this.
The focus in relation to the legislation during this time is on working with pool owners to rectify any issues found through inspections.
