3 May 2021
Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: Manhole accident
Enquiry
Kia ora, I am working on a story about the Eruera St manhole accident, publishing today, and invite the council's right of reply for the story.
I've attached the letter to the council from a family member of the lady who was injured for the council to respond to for the article if desired. Of course, the council will have a copy of this letter also. [see attached screenshots 124613 and 124551 which are taken from the report into the investigation which the reporter requested and was provided]
Also this comment from the husband of the lady who was injured [asked about Infracore never having inspected the manhole]
He said the council should have been responsible for inspecting the manhole and maintaining it.
Could the council please also answer:
Can the council be confident there are no other manholes in the Rotorua district which have not been inspected, and therefore maintained, due to Infracore's record-keeping? Why / why not?
Response
From Infrastructure Group Manager Stavros Michael:
We deeply regret that this happened and acknowledge the seriousness of the incident. Council has expressed its regrets and apologies directly to the lady concerned and her family. They have also been informed of the outcome of Council’s investigation and have been reassured that improvements have been made as a result, to ensure we reduce, as much as is possible, the risk of something like this happening again.
Public safety is a priority and any incident like this is taken very seriously. Following immediate actions taken to replace the damaged manhole cover, an investigation was carried out into systems and processes relating to inspection of Council’s approximately 13,000 manhole covers (5000 stormwater manhole covers and 8000 sewer manhole covers).
Corrective actions taken include updating and improvement of asset records, processes and reporting systems to ensure damaged assets are promptly reported and repaired or replaced as necessary.
The matter was reported to WorkSafe which informed Council the incident was not notifiable to WorkSafe although it would be noted on Council’s file.
We will continue to monitor our systems and work with contractors and make improvements where necessary.
*InfraCore was also contacted for comment and CE Matthew Scott provided the following response:
As you are aware infraCore are committed to continuous improvement for all elements of our business, including Public and Employee safety. As such any events including those without a clear cause are taken very seriously. Infracore continue to work in partnership with Rotorua Lakes Council to ensure that all processes are robust.
As asset owner, Rotorua lakes Council have managed the relationship with the lady.
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Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: CBD
Enquiry
I am currently working on a follow up to two articles my colleagues published earlier in the year:
- https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rotorua-daily-post/news/rotorua-has-good-energy-as-new-businesses-start-filling-cbd/KVBJAYUJQDJE7VTGEJQABLOSVY/
- https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rotorua-daily-post/news/rotorua-cbd-fights-back-with-new-businesses-setting-up-shop/TE2DQWBMLGWBSU57JDBQYJ77GA
Over the past few weeks, we have heard of three store closures: Cotton On, The Meat Shoppe, and one other.
In light of these developments, and in anticipation of a slowdown in business over winter, we would like to put the following questions to the Mayor for comment:
- What incentives does the council plan to put in place for businesses in the Rotorua CBD?
- Is the council on track to fulfil its plan of a "vibrant, safe, and thriving inner city"?
- Is the council optimistic about business growth in the Rotorua CBD? For what reasons?
- What does the CBD need to thrive? How does council plan to provide this?
Response
From Mayor Steve Chadwick:
Efforts to ensure we have a vibrant, viable CBD have been ongoing and are a focus of proposals in our 2021-31 Long-term Plan that Council has been consulting on. Certainly what I’ve heard from people reaffirms that inner city living and mixed use is what people want to see.
Along with the growth of online shopping, big box retail and malls, the face of inner cities nationwide has changed during the past decade. We now face the additional challenges brought about by COVID but we remain optimistic and for its part, Council is working with key stakeholders to enable and encourage mixed use that includes residential as well as office, retail, hospitality and accommodation. Inner city living in particular will drive different types of offerings and create activity and vibrancy.
Finding ways to encourage and incentivise mixed use is part of work Council is undertaking to develop an inner city plan that is part of our Economic Development Strategy Framework which, in turn, is incorporated into our draft long-term plan. Input from stakeholders, including the business sector, iwi and landowners/developers, will be vital to making sure we get it right by helping to add the detail and define specific opportunities, and stakeholder engagement this year will widen as this work builds.
INFORMATION
Work and projects underway that contribute to CBD support and vibrancy:
- Council is looking at how to support and encourage inner city residential development as part of the inner city plan (which is part of the Draft Economic Development Strategy Framework adopted by Council last December and work on which is underway).
- Council is working on an incentives policy to enable and drive development into the CBD. It is anticipated that this could be in the form of a rates remission to incentivise development into certain parts of the CBD. This could mean the creation of zones to specifically encourage development of office space and retail in some parts of the CBD while accommodation and residential living could be in others. (Maryana this info is from p5 of the LTP consultation document which you will find HERE. There are more reference to the CBD throughout the consultation document)
- Council-run activities that bring people into the CBD and provide opportunities for businesses include: Thursday Night Market, Sunday Farmers Market and activations (winter activations will include Music Month during May and Matariki activities in July).
- Council supports bigger events, like this weekend’s Rotorua Marathon, which brings significant numbers of people who spend in accommodation, at cafes, restaurants, retail shops and local attractions.
- Council’s events platform Rotorua Nui enables businesses to showcase their events free of charge and a number of inner city businesses and organisations are taking up that opportunity.
- Council-funded safety patrols are continuing and further investment in safety initiatives is proposed in the 2021-31 Long-term Plan.
- Redevelopment of the lakefront and upgrades of facilities like forest amenities and the performing arts centre aim to benefit locals as well as support local businesses by bringing people and events to Rotorua.
- Destination marketing both domestically and to Australia continues through Council’s CCO Rotorua Economic Development, which is also working on a Destination Management Plan and promoting Rotorua as a venue for business events and conferences with strong bookings through the winter months.
For more information and for your reference and knowledge:
Draft Economic Strategy Framework in December 2020, which will be finalised once priority action plans have been completed with stakeholders, can be found HERE.
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Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Aerial images of Rotorua
Enquiry
Can I please have some archived aerial shots of Rotorua from the 40s and 50s please?
Response
Council response:
Our collection curator would need time to see if we have any of these images on file. Given your deadline, she says you’d be best to look through the digitised aerial images on this database, DigitalNZ, from the early 1930s to mid 1980s by Whites Aviation. All of the free Rotorua aerials by Whites Aviation are marked “free” on their site with all of the correct image credit rights. You can contact the Alexander Turnbull Library if unsure. This can be done via their website, details are provided with each individual image.