24 March 2021
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: A year since lockdown
Enquiry
I am writing a piece a year on since lockdown, with the anniversary coming up on March 25.
May I please have some comment from the mayor regarding:
- How would you describe the last year in 3 words?
- How do you think Rotorua's business community has bounced back from the lockdowns?
- What were some of the biggest challenges for Rotorua businesses?
- What were some of the successes?
- What's next? How do you see the next year going?
- Please add anything further you'd like to say here:
Response
From Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick:
How would you describe the last year in 3 words?
Extremely challenging year.
How do you think Rotorua's business community has bounced back from the lockdowns?
Many are feeling the loss of the international market acutely now and some may not be able to recover - that is the reality. Others have been able to innovate and adapt but there is still a lot of uncertainty and everyone is feeling the pain of business downturn and job losses. It affects the whole community.
There's a long way to go but Council will continue to do all it can to support our businesses and economic recovery.
What were some of the biggest challenges for Rotorua businesses?
The biggest challenge has been the loss of the international visitors and the flow-on effect that has had on the wider community, and I am concerned how this will affect young people and what they see for their future here.
What were some of the successes?
We have learned to work together in different ways and I have been impressed with the resilience and determination shown by our local business operators in the face of such adversity and the ongoing unknowns. Many innovated and found new ways to operate and some invested in new products and services to cater to the new world they face.
It was great to see the Build Back Better sector groups form quickly and work together with our CCO Rotorua Economic Development to understand what our district needs to move forward, and that will be reflected in our 2021-31 Long-term Plan which is going out to consultation soon.
What's next? How do you see the next year going?
It's impossible to predict what the future holds.
We need to get the vaccination roll out right, and to open the border to Australia in a safe and well managed way.
We've heard from RED that there will be a focus on events during the winter - especially business conferences which are seeing an increase in participants and will provide some economic boost.
As a Council we are looking forward to firstly getting the community's feedback on, and then moving ahead to implementation, of our 2021-31 Long-term Plan to support and keep our district moving forward and address current challenges. There's a lot of work to be done.
Additionally:
I've been really impressed by the resilience of our community as a whole during such a challenging time.
And I'm proud of the way the likes of Te Arawa, other community groups and neighbourhoods and the Civil Defence Emergency Management team worked together to support our community and one another. We had groups making sure elderly people were okay, that families had enough kai, tamariki with no access to devices had educational resources and so on. It was wonderful to see how everyone came together to look after each other and I know it will happen again if the need arises.
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Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Kuirau Park skatepark
Enquiry
I've spotted this on your website (update on Kuirau Park skate park site). Is there anything new or needing updated from this information? If not, it pretty much answers all the questions, but just have a few more.
Has the dirt been moved on the site yet? Not sure I've seen that, just the caging around the outside, but to be honest wasn't looking too closely when driving past. Is the caging up to keep people off the dirt?
Also, with the external funding needed, how much has been raised so far (if any) and how much is needed, where do you think that will come from and who is in charge of applying/gathering it?
Also, not sure if you can answer this yet, but is there intended to be some kind of memorial for Charles at the site (assume his kowhai tree will be planted there at least)?
Oh sorry, when is work expected to start and finish? I see the pre-load is tipped to settle over 12-24 months so could be a while away aye? Can you please just give a bit clearer indication of estimated timelines?
Response
From Council's Sport, Recreation and Environment Manager Rob Pitkethley:
The preload is likely to start being moved later this week, coordinating with site approvals at the Lakefront Development. The safety fencing is to keep people off the preload and away from site monitoring tools, and to allow us to establish grass cover once the preload is in place.
Council committed $750,000 via the 2018-2028 Long-term Plan to be used for initial investigations and further design work for the new site at Kuirau Park. Now that geotech investigations have confirmed the corner of Kuirau and Pukuatua Streets will be a suitable site for the new park, staff can begin the design process for the new facility. The outcomes of the design process will determine budget and timing for the project.
The kowhai tree will be integrated into the landscape design and as this process develops any memorial will be appropriately considered.
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Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: Waka Kotahi roadworks on Te Ngae Rd
Enquiry
I've been in touch with former mayor Grahame Hall who believes the work on Te Ngae Rd is taking too long and can be done faster.
I've included his views below, and have highlighted the part specifically critical of the council to which I invite a right of reply.
Questions:
Is the council comfortable that work on Te Ngae Rd is being done as fast as possible?
Has the council requested Waka Kotahi NZTA speed up the work?
Is the council concerned about the impact of the roadworks on businesses on the east side?
Former mayor Grahame Hall said he believed work on Te Ngae Rd could be done faster than it is being done.
He said crews working on site appeared to be minimal and the council could do more to lobby for faster work.
He had "serious concerns" for businesses, residents and ratepayers on Rotorua's east side and said businesses and residents shouldn't have to "put up" with the roadworks for a year.
It is expected work on Te Ngae Rd will finish in late 2021.
"It needs to get finished."
He said he had fears for safety, especially around the Te Ngae Rd roundabout, as Winter approached and rain increased and light reduced.
Response
From Infrastructure Group Manager Stavros Michael:
Council is comfortable that Waka Kotahi (NZTA) is well placed to manage the project and we are in constant contact and working together to ensure the works are completed as soon as is physically possible.
We are very aware of the impact infrastructure works can have on business activity and on the community and as we always do, we are working closely with our partners, Waka Kotahi, to ensure all that can be done to minimise those impacts is being done.