28 March 2018

Media: Rotorua Review

Topic: Springfield/Otonga intersection upgrade

Enquiry

• I wanted to ask whether there is a date at which the work is expected to be completed?
• I believe the work was expected to take 10 weeks - has that time frame been extended?
• I've spoken to a number of the business owners nearby who have complained about their takings being dramatically down while this work has been going on - is council aware of their concerns?

Response

From General Manager Infrastructure Stavros Michael:

We continue to work with our partners to minimise the impact on and inconvenience to the community and businesses during construction and our contractors make every effort to accommodate access to all nearby properties and to communicate with businesses. Weather permitting, we expect work to be completed by mid-April, as planned.

To future-proof the site in case there is a need for traffic signals at a later stage, infrastructure has been installed underground and Council contractors are now undertaking the final works including footpaths and parking outside the shops.

Residents and businesses have been updated since the project planning stage, December 2016, and we are working closely with Otonga Primary which helped design the crossing and shared paths outside the school area.

The raised platform pedestrian crossings being constructed at the intersection are designed to encourage drivers to slow down significantly as they enter the roundabout.

Our primary consideration is always the safety of the most vulnerable road users - pedestrians and cyclists - and in this case it includes a large number of school children. Crossings are being installed across the two busiest roundabout exit/entry points based on monitoring which identified these as the preferred paths taken by children.

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Media: Rotorua Daily Post

Topic: Civil Defence app created by Toi Ohomai student

Enquiry

A reporter sought comment from council regarding an app created by a Toi Ohomai student to help with civil defence.

Here's the summary of the app:

The app, currently called ASH (Asset Support Hub), would be used by organisations to offer resources in the event of a regional emergency situation. In advance, they would identify useful assets they could contribute, such as trucks, bulldozers, emergency shelters, trained first-aid staff or people with SAR skills, and upload this information with contact details to the app. In a real event, a regional emergency controller could quickly identify what resources are available and call them in.

It helps with the allocation of resources. And the app should be complete by the end of the month.

Response

From Rotorua Lakes Council's Primary Civil Defence Emergency Management Controller, Stavros Michael:

We are not aware of this app but are always interested in looking at new ways of providing services, including emergency management, and it would be interesting to find out more about how the mobile app is intended to work and the research that sits behind its development.

During a civil defence emergency normal Council business stops and staff from across the organisation, along with council contractors, come together to manage a situation as it unfolds, commandeering resources as required so we already have access to much of what would be needed and have worked with many groups and organisations in the community to ensure provisions such as emergency shelters are available.

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Media: Rotorua Daily Post

Topic: Issues at Lake Okataina boat ramp

Enquiry

A reporter sought comment from council in regards to a complaint about sand build up and format of the Lake Okataina boat ramp:

• Why piles of sand and pumice collecting on the jetties and ramps?
• How many jetties and ramps in the RLC area are not useable at the moment? For what reasons?
• Has the Council received complaints about the issue? How many?
• What other problems do sporadic lake levels pose for the RLC?
• What possible solutions could we use?
• Does the Council think there are health and safety problems at the Lake Okataina boat ramp caused by the small width of the ramp and/or its popularity?

Response

From Sport and Recreation Manager Rob Pitkethley:

Rotorua Lakes Council owns and maintains 54 jetties and 39 boat ramps throughout the district. These are important infrastructure for our many lake users and all jetties and ramps are checked and, if need be, cleared every Friday during the summer months. We rely on the public to notify us of any problems that may occur between checks.

The unprecedented weather events in the past 15 months have created a number of issues at jetty and boat ramp locations due to higher lake levels.

We have asked for expressions of interest to provide possible solutions to cover the large range of levels some lakes experience and while floating jetties may be suitable in lakes that have steeper banks, they are much less viable at Okataina because of its shallow gradient.

Council has proposed to dedicate $1.9 million to lakes infrastructure enhancements, including jetties and boat ramps, in the 2018-28 Long-term Plan which is currently out for consultation.

We have received two complaints about the Okataina jetty during the past six months, one last November and one this week. Along with all other jetties and boat ramps council owns and maintains, the jetty at Okataina will be checked tomorrow and cleared this week, ahead of Easter weekend.

Council isn't aware of any unusable boat ramps in the district and during summer (until the end of April) checks are carried out on all each Friday, including the ramp at Okataina. However Okataina in particular can change dramatically in a short space of time due to southerly winds and we rely on the public to report any problems.

The width of the ramp at Okataina is not considered a health and safety issue because the side walls help to prevent boats and vehicles falling off. However we are aware the walls make it more difficult for some users to navigate and reverse which can at times cause longer waiting times for users at peak periods.

Further information:

• Rotorua Lakes Council owns and maintains 54 jetties and 39 boat ramps.
• There are also more than 1000 private jetties throughout the district.