24 April 2019
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Housing First
Enquiry
Housing First is open for business next week and we'd like to run a story tomorrow about it, short notice I know sorry, but I'm just looking for a short comment from someone in the council about the programme and the fact it's coming.
Maybe along the lines of whether you welcome it and what it will help achieve in the city/why it's good for the city.
Response
From Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick:
"Council has always been supportive of the great work that these organisations have been doing in our community and it's wonderful to see the Housing First programme progressing since it was announced last year.
We have advocated for the Housing First model as part of the potential long-term solution to homelessness issues in Rotorua.
We congratulate Te Taumata O Ngāti Whakaue Iho Ake Trust for their leadership on this issue and their commitment to working with the community."
________________________________________________________________________________________
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Wastewater treatment plant
Enquiry
Following an interview last week about the status of the proposed Tarawera sewerage scheme, reporter sought information about the Rotorua city wastewater treatment plant.
Response
The following information was provided:
Rotorua Lakes Council and CNI agreed in 2013 to make every endeavour to stop irrigating treated wastewater in the Whakarewarewa Forest by the end of this year. CNI and Council know this may take more time and are focussed on working together to find a viable solution which would obtain resource consent and provides a disposal solution for treated wastewater outside the forest.
Just to let you know, the following links help provide some contexts regarding the information above regarding the proposed Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Council is currently calling for submissions on the management and operation of Council's wastewater network infrastruction. You can see details about the Annual Plan here.
Discussion about the Rotorua Wastewater Treatment Plant was raised at Council's Operations and Monitoring Committee meeting in February. This was to provide elected members with an update since Council lodged its resource consent. Here is the link to that discussion: https://youtu.be/ccOGxl77pzI?t=8090 in which Stavros Michael and Gina Rangi (Council's Kaiwhakahaere Māori) spoke to the committee.
Mr Michael also did an interview with Te Karere about four months ago. The information in that interview may be of use to you. Here is the link.
Also you can find out more information about the proposed Wastewater Treatment Plant here.
