22 September 2017
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Haupapa roadworks and trees
Inquiry
A member of the public has just told us that some trees on Haupapa Street - what used to be the median strip -have just been cut down without notification and she's not happy about it.
She was told it was done so that a cycleway could be put in and I just wondered if you could check that for me.
Also, was this part of a plan for the street which has been made public already, or was the public notified in some way?
Were they particularly old or native trees?
Response
The following information was provided:
- There is no cycleway being constructed there. The work that's underway is the construction of a large raised crossing to provide safe access between the library building and the carpark on the other side of the road.
- This will support the Library and Child Health Hub project, which will provide enhanced library services and will see Lakes District Health Board becoming a tenant in the building, providing child outpatient and support services.
- Four maple trees had to be removed and will be replaced with eight new trees on either side of the road.
- The raised crossing will allow for slow two-way traffic with drop-off and disability parking on both sides and seating on both sides.
- The work is expected to take a few months to complete and was publicised on Council's website and via Council social media. Rotorua Daily Post also ran a story about it (see HERE) and may have posted about it on social media and businesses in the vicinity of the roadworks were notified.
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Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Te Manawa construction delays
Inquiry
I am working on a story around the notice given to businesses regarding the Te Manawa construction and letting them know the wet weather has continued to cause delays, pushing the completion date further out. I have had a chat to a couple businesses and just wanted to get a response to a couple things one has brought up:
- They have suggested that thought should have been put into having the workers do night and weekend shifts to meet a deadline and to make the most of good weather in those hours. Is that something council thought about? If so, why was it not undertaken?
- Was there any thought/solutions made in regards to how the construction might make parking situations difficult for people in the streets of Te Manawa?
- There are people tripping on uneven cobbles that still need to be flattened and compacted. Would it have been better to do the paving along the shops at the end?
Response
Please attribute the following statement to Rotorua Lakes Council's Infrastructure group manager, Stavros Michael:
"Ongoing revitalisation and improvement of the heart of the city is one of our key priorities. Council regrets the ongoing inconvenience to businesses and the public caused by unprecedented rain.
Council staff have been and are continuing to visit retailers to keep them up-to-date on progress of construction at Te Manawa. Although there is no good time to undertake a large project like this, we had to consider numerous factors to contract management. In this case, we had to make a decision that was fair for various groups including that night and weekend work at Te Manawa would be noisy and disruptive for residents living in apartments near the CBD.
Construction work would also be disruptive at the weekend given the likelihood more people would be out and about. We also recognise parking is a prime concern but our top priority has to be the safety of the community.
A lot of work still needs to be done including rectifying trip hazardous cobble stones near the city centre. Improvements of Te Manawa will help towards creating a vibrant and exciting inner city. Council identified that through several rounds of consultation retailers, residents, visitors and business owners wanted to see a change to the inner city that retained a central community feel.
We know that a vibrant and exciting city centre is a major factor in attracting people, activities, events and developments to our district."
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Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Rotorua bus services
Inquiry
I have put some questions to the Regional Council who I know run the bus services, but would also like some comment from local council.
Rotorua is a thriving tourist destination with areas such as Eat Streat and a busy Thursday night market have the council ever pushed for late night buses to cater to this?
Would Rotorua Lakes Council support later night buses in Rotorua?
Response
It was arranged for the reporter to speak with Councillor Tania Tapsell as Council's representative on the regional council's public transport committee.
