22 March 2017

Media: Rotorua Daily Post

Topic: City Focus / Manawa update

Inquiry

- Why has work stalled?

- Is there any sign of anyone picking up the contract for the work?

- When is the project supposed to be finished? (We had this as Easter 2016?)

- What is planned for the farmers market? Will it continue on the same site after redevelopment?

- What is planned for the new name? Will it still be Manawa (heart)?

- Have any of the plans or budgets changed? If so, what?

Response

Work on the City Focus refresh hasn't stalled. You'll recall (reported last July) that after consulting inner city businesses it was decided to break the project down into stages, to time the work around contractors and busy retail periods and to defer the final stage to 2017.

We don't have an update at this time. Stage 2 is finished - it involved the work you reported in September + the recladding and lighting of the remaining pillars.

There are no plans to move the farmers market from its current location.

From Group Manager Strategy and Partnerships, Jean-Paul Gaston:

Targets we may have set previously are subject to change until everything has been confirmed. Contractors and timing for stage 3 of the City Focus refresh have yet to be finalised, along with farmers market details, and will be announced when they are confirmed. Local businesses will be kept in the loop.