7 March 2017
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Operations & Monitoring Committee - Wood First/Inner City Portfolios
Inquiry
Refer to page 35, O&M Committee agenda.
Inner City Portfolio
Building Strong Partnerships
Discussions have begun with local architects and timber partners to begin to craft a set of guidelines to reflect our Wood First policy and to lift the quality of some of the facades of inner city buildings. Various models of how this can be encouraged are being tested.
- How long have discussions been underway?
- Who are you speaking to about this?
- What was the catalyst for the discussion?
- How do you plan to get buy in from building owners?
- What is the state of facades in central Rotorua?
- Would this be extended to include other parts of Rotorua such as suburban shopping centres?
Response
From Strategic Development Manager Portia McKenzie:
Many of the new buildings in the inner city reflect Rotorua's Wood First policy and it's been suggested Council could encourage and facilitate that to happen across the CBD. We're also keen to see buildings spruced up to help lift the inner city further.
We're at the very early stages of this right now, just looking at what we might be able to do - there's nothing firmed up yet.
We envisage that in future we'll be talking to building owners and looking to encourage them to consider improving their building facades. We'll also look at working with those who are undertaking improvements or earthquake-strengthening to see how we can support them to reflect our Wood First policy in the work they do.
Council has had initial discussions with local architects regarding urban design guidelines and has spoken with local timber suppliers and inner city advocates to start discussions about how it could be done, including what incentives could be offered.
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Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Operations & Monitoring Committee - Hemo Gorge Sculpture
Inquiry
Refer to page 35 O&M Committee agenda
Hemo Gorge Sculpture
Three tenders were received and a preferred contractor selected for construction of the sculpture.
A previous story I wrote about the sculpture;
The revised budget would see the New Zealand Transport Agency stump up $200,000, the council $150,000 and Te Puia $50,000, leaving another $100,000 to be sought from various community and arts trusts, or private individuals who would like to contribute.
- Who has got the tender?
- Is the cost still budgeted at $500,00?
- Is the council's part of the budget still $150,000?
- Is there any time frame for its construction?
Response
From Jean-Paul Gaston, Group Manager Strategy and Partnerships:
We're still in discussions with the preferred contractor and won't be announcing who it is until the contract has been officially awarded. However, we're pleased with how the discussions are progressing.
There's been no change to the budget for this project.
We would like the sculpture to go up at the same time as the roundabout work is finished although we don't yet know if that will happen - the timeline is yet to be finalised.
