7 July 2020

Media: Rotorua Daily Post

Topic: Long Mile Rd visitor centre design

Enquiry

I'm hoping for a quick phone interview with Steve Chadwick today in relation to the proposals for the upgrade of the Long Mile Road Visitor Centre being shortlisted.

I'll just be looking for some comment on why council is going to local businesses for the contract - the importance of supporting them - and what affect the upgrade could have on the area.

Response

Mayor Chadwick was unavailable today and Deputy Mayor Donaldson agreed to speak to the Daily Post regarding the importance of going local. He made the following key points:

• 11 expressions of interest received - 3 have been shortlisted (Bishop Architecture/GRB Construction, Longmile Builders/Southern Draught, and Lockwood Group Ltd)
• This is a partnership project with CNI and mana whenua (with funding from PGF)
• Council, alongside CNI & mana whenua, will be working closely with the three shortlisted applicants to refine designs and then the evaluation team will select the successful applicant.
• Looking to have a contract signed by the end of September
• Council's procurement policy gives extra weighting to local businesses so we always try to use locals wherever possible and feasible.
• We are even more focused on that now as part of our Build Back Better recovery strategy.
• This is one way Council can contribute to supporting local businesses and rebuilding our local economy, helping to keep our businesses going and our people in work.
• The current Visitor Centre was built in 1970 and saw about 640,000 visitors walk through its doors last year.
• Upgrading the Long Mile Road Visitor Centre and creating space for a commercial building site will allow us to accommodate more visitors, provide space for additional services, and will lay the foundation for future commercial investment.
• Key outcomes of wider forest project - The development aims to enhance the forest amenity and improve the experience for all, create significant opportunities for the city, benefit tourism, spark commercial investment and create new jobs.