8 August 2018

Media: Rotorua Daily Post

Topic: Floating jetties

Inquiry

One thing mentioned in the [July] Operations and Monitoring Committee meeting was about boat ramps.

There was mention of looking at the feasibility of floating boat ramps at some of the lakes around the district, tied into this, on page 27 there's mention of a boat ramp/jetty project on Acacia Rd being deferred due to high lake levels.

• Can you please explain more to me about this floating ramp feasibility study including why these ramps are beneficial (ie i'm assuming they rise with the lake levels for access). who is doing the study and if there is a timeline for it. As well as where they are looking at.
• Then on the Acacia Rd note, is the project a boat ramp or jetty?
• How many other RLC projects have been deferred due to high lake levels? And what problems do high lake levels pose? ( I will also put questions to BOPRC around this.
• There is mention of seeking funding from MBIE's tourism investment fund, can you also please speak to what project this fund would be for?
• The agenda also says the council is working with the community to identify needs for the ramp, who have you been working with and what are some of the things that have come from that?

Response

From Sport and Recreation Manager Rob Pitkethley:

Lake levels in Rotorua can vary significantly, especially after severe rain events and boat ramps and jetties can become flooded. Lake levels can remain high for long periods which means jetties can be unavailable for people to use and under water for periods of time. High lake levels can also cause significant lakeside erosion and damage to shoreline reserves and walkways. We have experienced these issues at Lake Tikitapu, Rotorua and Rotoma during the past year. Council is working through the consenting process with Bay of Plenty Regional Council for a new retaining wall at Rotoma to fix the damage caused by erosion there and a new entry to the Lake Tikitapu walking track has been created.

We have commissioned Shearwater Consulting Limited to investigate the potential suitability of a floating jetty at Rotoma . Floating jetties are able to move with changes in water levels meaning they are usable even when the levels are high. However this also means the jetty structure would be more exposed when levels are low, so the consultants must take this into consideration. Any structures should not detract from the natural state of the lake.

Merge Lodge (Rotoma) ramp and jetty are the focus of the feasibility study as it has one of the higher ranges in lake levels which can vary up to five metres. The initial testing of the lake bed will take about a month (weather dependent). The feasibility study at Rotoma will give us a test case and help us to apply the same methodology to see whether the same structure could be used at other lakes in Rotorua.

Council will consult the local communities and lake users once the study is complete to understand what future structure options would be suitable in each area.

We are also talking to other councils about how they manage structures where there are fluctuating water levels.

The range of variation in lake levels and the possible lengthy periods of time between high and low levels is a significant point of difference in our lakes when compared to tidal waters (where floating jetties are more common) and so presents difficulties in terms of functionality of structures and how they might look for long periods when water levels are low.

At Acacia Road at Lake Okareka, we are working with the community and users on the renewal of the existing ramp and jetty. As part of this work programme we are also considering a swimming pontoon and improvements to the associated infrastructure such as parking areas. We have been working with Rotorua Lakes Community Board and Lake Okareka Community Association who have also sought support from Council for a proposed extension to the Lake Okareka Walkway.

To help fund the improvements at Acacia Road Council has applied for funding from the Tourism Infrastructure Fund which provides for development of tourism-related infrastructure to alleviate funding pressures on local communities. Lake Okareka is one of Rotorua's most popular lakes, for both locals and visitors, and infrastructure needs to cater to the high use.

More information:

• In the 2018-2028 Long-term Plan Council has dedicated more than $2 million to enhancing lakes infrastructure including ramps and jetties.
• The lakes most affected by high rainfall in the past 18 months are those with no surface outflows (outgoing streams or rivers) or underwater aquifers (underground streams). These include Rotoma, Rotoehu, Okataina, Tikitapu and Rerewhakaaitu.
• Lake Okareka has a controlled outlet so while still susceptible to high levels, it is more easily managed than those above.
• Lake levels can vary between three to five metres over a period of time. Consultants must take into consideration the aesthetics of infrastructure when levels are low, meaning parts of the floating jetties that would be under water during high levels would be totally uncovered during low level periods.

*NOTE: the only work deferred due to high lake levels was the Acacia Rd ramp/jetty project.

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Media: Rotorua Daily Post

Topic: Museum stories

Inquiry

A reporter working on a Saturday feature on Rotorua District Council's museum sought an interview with Arts and Culture Manager Stewart Brown re the building and comment from Mayor Chadwick re the importance of the museum/Bath House to Rotorua.

Reporter has already traced the museum's history and its evolution over the years and indicated she has also spoken to Ngati Whakaue and to QE, the latter in relation to treatments that used to be provided at the Blue Baths.

Response

During his interview Stewart Brown made the following key points:

The closure came at a time of momentum for the museum with visitor numbers on the increase and exhibitions focus changing to be more appealing and community-focused.

Most of the objects that were on display within the museum are now out and at council's off-site storage facility. Planning is underway for the few remaining objects which need specialist care.

Stewart talked through the challenges of getting a really clear picture of structural issues and the work that needed to be done to future proof the museum, given the complexities of its construction etc and the time that had to be taken to do the assessments well to ensure we get it right

Part of the restoration will seek to reduce maintenance requirements and costs

Museum staff have been busy despite the closure with ongoing tours, school programmes, visits, assisting with exhibitions elsewhere, the WW100 memorial project, exhibitions and events and have been heavily involved in the restoration project - going room by room re what's needed and how future proof

The aim is that when people walk in when it re-opens they will say it looks the same as before

This part of the museum's history will be highlighted in some way eg an exhibition of some type

Asked what he would hope for the museum in another 110 years (it's nearly 110 years since the original Bath House opened), Stewart said he hoped it would still be well utilised, still playing a key role in Rotorua's tourism industry and still much loved