22 May 2018

Media: Rotorua Daily Post

Topic: Te Arawa Partnership

Enquiry

A Reporter sought comment from the mayor, additional to the comment sought from elected members re their views on the Te Arawa partnership - particularly around some of the criticisms.

• Does she [the Mayor] think the value they get from Te Tatau is worth the $250,000 a year?
• What is her response to claims it's racist? etc.

In response to a question from Council about what the specific claims were and who was making them, the reporter explained:

Nobody has explicitly said it isn't worth it, questions have just been raised by members of the public as to whether it's a good use of council money.

In terms of racism, that complaint has come from a councillors statement, that preference is being given to Māori.

Response

From Mayor Steve Chadwick:

The partnership is about the value of and contribution to the district of an effective partnership with tangata whenua, who have a shared vested interest in the success of Rotorua and the wellbeing of all its residents.

By working together on the basis of shared understanding we also share in the benefits of avoiding the likes of the Environment Court challenges we used to face before adopting the new partnership. These were costly both financially and in terms of our relationship with Te Arawa.

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Media: Rotorua Daily Post

Topic: Provincial Growth Fund

Enquiry

Rotorua Daily Post sought comment from Council regarding the Provincial Growth Fund and Council's plans to use some of the fund for the Forest and the Lakefront developments.

Why is it valuable, why ask for some for these particular projects (if they are included in the final LTP obviously), any other plans to put your hand up for it?

Response

See earlier response from Jean-Paul Gaston to same question on 21 May 2018 HERE

From Mayor Steve Chadwick:

Minister Shane Jones supports our aspirations for Rotorua and the Provincial Growth Fund makes possible two projects that cannot be funded by ratepayers alone.

Our proposed 2018-28 Long-term Plan focuses on improving existing facilities and investing in infrastructure to continue Rotorua's progress.

Lifting locals' and visitors' experiences of the lakefront and Redwoods will provide both social and economic benefits, as well as supporting the aspirations of iwi who are key partners in these proposed developments.

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Media: Rotorua Daily Post

Topic: Sinking graves in cemetries

Enquiry

From Rotorua Daily Post (following up last week's enquiry relating to damage to graves at Kauae Cemetery following 29 April rain:

Have spoken with a few relatives affected by this and hoped to get further response from council about the following:

• By how much have the graves sunk - ie. 5 - 10cm?
• Why is this a problem?
• What is being done to address it?
• Have affected families been informed? Why, why not?
• Has this happened in a Rotorua Lakes Council cemetery before or is it simply the result of an extreme weather event?
• Has the council any idea how much the works to address the sunken graves will cost and how long they will take?

Response

We are unable to provide an estimate of the cost of addressing the subsiding graves as the work is being done under our existing maintenance contract.

Please attribute the following statement to Rotorua Lakes Council's Sport and Recreation Manager Rob Pitkethley:

Council has responded directly to inquiries its received, to let them know what maintenance is being undertaken. Staff are continuing to carry out work at about 70 graves in the Kauae and Rotorua cemeteries. This work includes filling each affected site with topsoil before grass seeding can be done. What's evident is that subsidence damage caused by the recently severe weather is more apparent as our staff have reported that some graves have subsided by between 10 and 30 centimetres. This is not only upsetting for families visiting their loved ones but also poses a safety risk to them and other visitors who could trip in a dip in the ground. It will take a week or so before all maintenance has been carried out at the affected graves however it will take a bit more time before the grass seedlings grow and the damage is no longer evident. We encourage any relatives whose loved one's graves have been affected to contact Council on 348 4199 so we can answer your questions.

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Media: Rotorua Daily Post

Topic: Resource Consent figures

Enquiry

In a story that ran in the paper in January it outlined consents for potential lots:

• 35 in the 2015/16 financial year
• 172 in the 2016/17
• 110 this financial year (to Jan 27)

The reporter requested the number of consents approved for the 2017/18 financial year.

Reponse

Here are the subdivision resource consent numbers up until 30 April 2018:

• Total number of potential lots - 128
• Of total 79 = residential lots and 49 = lifestyle lots