3 September 2020
Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: Building Act changes
Enquiry
Reporter had questions regarding a release from Building and Construction Minister Jenny Salesa [see HERE] regarding exemptions to the Building Act removing the need for a consent for low-risk building works
How many building consents did the council issue in the previous year (August 30 2019 - August 30 2020) that would now fall under the exemptions (below)?
How much were those consents worth in $ figures?
What is the drop in revenue the council is expecting with this change?
Of all the consents for that period (that now fall under the exemptions), which building type was the most common (i.e. sleepouts, awnings, outdoor fireplaces etc)?
What is the council's general response to this change - does it free up time for your consents team, will the revenue drop be a challenge, etc. etc.?
Response
The following information and comment were provided:
Rotorua Lakes Council estimates there were between 30-40 building consents issued that would match the exemption criteria.
The value of work associated with those consents would be approximately $450,000.
The estimated reduction in revenue is approximately $28,000.
The most common type of consent that would be exempt would be farm buildings that are now exempt under 110m2. The next most common would be garages and carports of up to 40m2 followed by ground floor verandas and porches up to 30m2.
From Council's Operations Group Manager Jocelyn Mikaere:
Many of the changes have a number of conditions attached to them so initially we expect to see an increase in general enquiries relating to the exemptions. In the short-term this means the changes probably won't result in significant time saving, but in the long-term we should see a positive impact on the building consent process. We're hoping that in time these changes will mean customers applying for consents will experience a quicker turnaround time."
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Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Rotorua roading improvements
Enquiry
Reporter said Minister Julie Anne Genter was visiting Rotorua today for the start of the SH5 Tarukenga to Ngongotahā safety and SH5/SH36 roundabout improvements projects. Reporter sought comment from the mayor and had the following questions:
- How important are the SH5 Tarukenga to Ngongotahā safety and SH5/SH36 roundabout improvements projects to our city? Why are they important?
- What would the consequences be if we did not have these improvements?
- How do you feel about the Government identifying roading projects like these in our community as important enough for extra funding?
- What are the roll-on benefits of these safety improvements and congestion reductions for the community? eg people not having to wait in traffic on their way to work/school drop off.
Response
From Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick:
We've lobbied long and hard for commitments from Central Government and its Transport Agency to improve our key Rotorua roading corridors, including at Ngongotaha and Te Ngae.
Key drivers have been the need to not just improve safety and increase capacity to relieve congestion, but also to future-proof our district and support proposed development. Getting the commitments and funding provides certainty that developers need to make decisions to go ahead with the likes of housing which, as we all know, is much-needed in Rotorua.
So it's great to see all this work now getting underway and we look forward to further improvements in future on Fairy Springs Road and through Ngongotaha Village.
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Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Aquatic Centre upgrades
Enquiry
We were after a bit more information around the council's tender approval for renovations at the 50m pool at the Rotorua Aquatic Centre please.
- Which company won the tender?
- How much is the tender for?
- How much is the total cost of renovating the 50m pool?
Response
From Operations Group Manager, Jocelyn Mikaere:
Renovating large swimming pools requires specialists with relevant expertise and experience in this type of work. Naylor Love Waikato/BOP Limited was selected as the construction contractor for the 50m pool renovation, following an open tendering process that included a call for expressions of interest, then invitations to submit proposals. A recommendation on the preferred tenderer was presented to the Full Council for its approval.
One of the selection criteria was a requirement of the contractor to ensure that, where possible, any sub-contracts go to Rotorua-based companies.
The Naylor Love tender price is commercially sensitive.
The 50m pool renovation is stage one of Aquatic Centre upgrades for which a total of $7.5m was allocated in the 2018-28 Long-term Plan. The estimated total cost of the 50m pool renovation - which includes equipment, investigative work and design, as well as construction - is approximately $3.1m.
