23 November 2018

Media: Rotorua Daily Post

Topic: City wastewater treatment project consent applications

Enquiry

Just hoping to get brief comments from the appropriate spokesperson at council about the consent applications for the wastewater services upgrade.

Questions for Rotorua Lakes Council:

Rotorua Lakes Council and CNI have made a commitment to end spraying treated wastewater in Whakarewarewa Forest by 2019. Is this still on track to be ended next year?

Is the budget for the project still $27 million, increasing to $37 million over 35 years?

How will the effluent be highly treated?

In 2015 we reported that for this project, "Capital costs would be funded by debt, operational costs would be funded by targeted rates" is this still the case?

Do you expect the project to result in rates rises?

Compared to the current system, how will the upgrade be better for Rotorua?

Questions for BOP Regional Council:

Rotorua Lakes Council and CNI have made a commitment to end spraying treated wastewater in Whakarewarewa Forest by 2019. Does the regional council think this still on track to be ended next year?

How many consents are being applied for in this group? (I just want to check my counting is correct here)

Are these the first consent applications the BOPRC has received for the Rotorua wastewater treatment upgrade due to be complete by the end of next year?

How many individual groups and or individual people have provided feedback before the cut off date on Monday, so far?

Response

The Manager in charge of this project is out of town for most (if not all) of today.

Here is some info about the project on Council's engagement website Korero Mai. Available on the page is FAQs, the Out of the Forest agreement, a recent presentation about the proposed upgrade etc.

We may need to schedule in some time for you to come in and see someone about the project next week.

NOTE - the reporter responded that the story could not wait until Monday given the closing date for submissions is 26Nov and said she would use information on Let's Talk/Korero Mai for details about the project. She did not come back to us for further information.

Response from BOP Regional Council:

I've provided background information below that answers your questions but am not able to provide official comment until late this afternoon as the team are away in an area with no reception. Do you need an attributable quote?

For your background:

• the bottom of page 26 of this report provides clarity on your first question. This is the extent of the information that we're a party too.
• If you check out this link you will see a document called 'Advert notification' which lists the consents Rotorua Lakes Council have applied for.
• I'm not quite sure what you mean by your third question, but the consent application currently being processed for the upgrade of the wastewater treatment plant is the first we've received for this project.

We've received around 30 submissions to date.

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Media: Rotorua Daily Post

Topic: Ruling re lakefront petition presentation during Council meeting

Enquiry

I am following up today's article with a short piece saying Reynold [Macpherson, RDRR secretary] is calling for an apology.

I would like to put the below comments to [Mayor Chadwick] and give [her] a right of reply.

Could you please call me or respond via email addressing the call for an apology, and that the point of order [that was made during the Council meeting when the petition against the lakefront development was being presented] was "premeditated".

Response

From Mayor Steve Chadwick:

I ruled on a point of order in my role as chair and as per the Standing Orders because I agreed it was offensive.

Re Standing Orders (the rules for how meetings must be conducted):

See below the section of the Standing Orders to which Cr Donaldson was referring when he raised a Point of Order:

16. Petitions

16.1 Form of petitions

Petitions may be presented to the local authority or any of its committees, local boards or community boards. Petitions must contain at least 20 signatures and consist of fewer than 150 words (not including signatories). They must be received by the chief executive at least 5 working days before the date of the meeting at which they will be presented.

Petitions must not be disrespectful, use offensive language or include malicious statements (see standing order 19.9 on qualified privilege). They may be written in English or te reo Māori. Petitioners planning to make a petition in te reo Māori or sign language should advise the relevant Chairperson at least two working days before the meeting to enable the petition be translated and reprinted, if necessary.

16.2 Petition presented by petitioner

A petitioner who presents a petition to the local authority or any of its committees and subcommittees, local boards or community boards, may speak for 5 minutes (excluding questions) about the petition, unless the meeting resolves otherwise. The Chairperson must terminate the presentation of the petition if he or she believes the petitioner is being disrespectful, offensive or making malicious statements.

Where a petition is presented as part of a deputation or public forum the speaking time limits relating to deputations or public forums shall apply. The petition must be received by the chief executive at least 5 working days before the date of the meeting concerned.