7 May 2021
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Car break-ins in carpark building
Enquiry
We've had a reader get in touch to say "about 20" cars were broken into at the iPark Pukuatua Carpark. He estimates about 2pm on Monday, but I'm not sure how accurate that is. (Let me know if these questions should be directed to an iPark employee).
- Do you have any information on these break-ins?
- How many cars were broken into?
- Does the Pukuatua car park have security? How often do they monitor the building?
- Will anything be done to prevent further break-ins?
Do you have advice for locals when parking in town? Perhaps around what you should and shouldn't leave in your vehicle?
Response
The parking building is owned by Council and the parking services within it are operated by iPark as per our contract with them, so Council is the appropriate organisation to respond.
The following response can be attributed to Rotorua Lakes Council’s Manager, Community & Regulatory Services, Kurt Williams:
“On Monday afternoon one of our security patrollers noticed broken glass in the Pukuatua Street parking building and subsequently identified seven cars that had been broken into. This was reported to police while the Safe City Guardians at Council reviewed the parking building’s CCTV footage. CCTV footage was provided to police for follow up. This incident appears to have been a one-off opportunistic event rather than a trend.
“Our security patrollers and CCTV monitoring staff do include the parking building as part of regular daily community safety operations.
“While everyone should be able to leave their car safely where it’s parked, unfortunately this is not always the case. To reduce the chances of theft, people are advised to take valuables with them rather than leave them in cars. If someone does experience a vehicle break in, regardless of the location, this should be reported to the police immediately.”
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Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Tourism
Enquiry
In light of the recent TIA Survey, and today's tourism package announcement, I am writing two pieces for the Rotorua Daily Post.
I would really appreciate the perspective of council on these topics. It would be most helpful if the following questions could be put to the Mayor, and any other relevant persons, at the earliest opportunity:
- In what ways has the Ministry of Tourism supported Rotorua businesses in the past year?
- What has this support meant for Rotorua?
- Do you think the recent TIA Survey gives an accurate understanding of issues faced by tourism operators?
- What difficulties does the tourism industry in Rotorua face at the moment?
- Were you aware of the new tourism support package prior to this announcement?
- How much of this package will be available to Rotorua businesses?
- What do you think of the Ministry's choice to focus on South Island tourism operators?
- Do you think the minister has set the right priorities for this funding? Why or why not?
- What support does Rotorua need from the Government?
- How do you think the Government could further support Rotorua's tourism industry?
Response
From Mayor Steve Chadwick:
Some of our businesses have benefitted from various Central Government support funds to help keep them operating and/or give them time to consider and implement changes. We have seen many introduce new products and offerings and that has been really heartening to see – businesses innovating and continuing to invest in their future and in Rotorua.
I expect the TIA survey is probably reflective of what is happening locally and reflects the ongoing struggles many of our businesses face.
As we’re now seeing, while travel bubbles provide opportunity, things can change very quickly and it’s impossible to predict what the future holds.
Some are still doing it very tough, particularly those that relied heavily on overseas visitors. Our businesses still face great uncertainty so the difficulties they faced during the past year really haven’t changed.
I know that our CCO Rotorua Economic Development is busy promoting our district, both in New Zealand and in Australia and the likes of business events booked through the winter, and sporting events like weekend’s marathon, are helping to keep things going for us.
As with any Government support, as a key tourist destination hit particularly hard by COVID, our expectation will be that Rotorua receives a fair share of the new tourism package announced this week and we will be looking to make the most of what’s available to assist our district recovery.
Addressing our social issues is as important as direct support for our key sectors like tourism because they impact on our whole community, and we continue to work closely with Central Government to address the likes of Rotorua’s housing challenges and to ensure our district benefits from available funding pools.
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Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: Tarawera sewerage reticulation scheme
Enquiry
As you may be aware, on April 30 Rotorua MP Todd McClay wrote to Steve regarding the Tarawera sewerage reticulation scheme.
I've attached it for your convenience.
- I was wondering if Steve could let me know, for an article on the letter, what her response is to what Todd has requested? Particularly - what is your personal view on the payments - should there be an option for residents to pay the estimated $33,000 off over time on top of their rates? Does it have to be a lump sum?
- Do you think the proposed payment scheme is, as it currently stands, fair and equitable?
Can the council please tell me:
- Why does the benefitting Tarawera residents' contribution to the scheme have to be a lump sum payment?
- Have there been any other RLC sewerage reticulation schemes where residents have only the option to pay by lump sum?
Below are some comments from Todd's meeting with some Tarawera residents, which I attended - could the council / mayor (where appropriate) please respond to these comments (including flagging anything incorrect)?
COMMENTS
Residents:
Tarawera resident Owen Dawe said the council was “threatening” residents with the letter.
Tarawera resident Gillian Cooke said the letter was “quite aggressive”.
“We feel threatened when we read that.
“People are beside themselves with worry.”
“If reticulation were to be selected by the council, our preferred option is that in fairness, as per the other lakes … that it’s put on our rates.”
Todd McClay:
“What the council must do is follow proper and due process, and they must treat everybody the same and fairly.
“The question that might be raised with them is if it’s not the same [as others] why [is Tarawera] being treated differently.
“Other communities in the Rotorua Lakes catchment who have opted into reticulated sewerage have been given the opportunity to meet the cost over a period of time on their rates and I can see no reason why the residents of Lake Tarawera should be treated any differently.
“The easiest way to make sure the council gets to the 75 per cent is to ensure that the cost of the infrastructure is shared over a period of time.
“If a resident has to pay the full amount now and wants to sell their house in a few years' time, they’ve met the cost of that, it won’t be factored into when the new person buys, in the price.
“I think the easiest thing the council should so is revisit their suggestion that will be two invoices issued for a lump sum and treat the residents of Tarawera the same as the other lakes have been treated.
“If they’re not able to do that, the council should explain to the residents and be upfront as to why you need to be treated different than every other lake in Rotorua.”
McClay said the estimated $33,000 lump sum was “a lot of money” and while there was “no guarantee” it would remain at that cost, in most other similar schemes the cost had come in below the estimate.
“The only thing that really slows it down is if they end up having long conversations with the community.”
He said there would possibly be a view from some on the council that the Tarawera was a wealthy community but in his experience that wasn’t always necessarily true.
“We shouldn’t allow cost to be a barrier to people being able to hook up to a reticulated system.”
He said reticulation systems had noticeably improved water quality in lakes in other areas and in some places it had contributed to an increase in value of nearby houses.
“If there is a way for the council to relieve the burden and make it fairer for the cost over time, they should.”
Lake Tarawera Ratepayers’ Association chairwoman Libby Fletcher said her committee understood the "pain" the people in the community were going through.
“It’s not equitable compared to other schemes.
“We’re basically having to front up with all the money and that’s not right.”
“People don’t have $33,000 tucked down the back of the sofa.”
She said McClay’s letter was was “absolutely right” and “very fair”.
Response
From Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick:
Council has been talking to and working with the Tarawera community on a reticulation scheme for several years now and we are very aware of residents’ views and concerns.
This matter will be part of upcoming Long-term Plan deliberations and it’s not appropriate for me to pre-empt those discussions.
From Infrastructure General Manager Stavros Michael:
This is the Council’s agreed Funding Policy for the scheme, as decided as part of the current (2018-28) Long-term Plan - see p24 of the current LTP. It is a matter for elected members if they wish to consider an alternative option as part of the 2021-2031 Long-term Plan deliberations.
Payment options previously implemented for the Hamurana/Awahou, Mourea/Okawa Bay, Hinemoa Point, Rotokawa/Brunswick, Okere Falls/Otaramarae/Whangamarino, Ōkareka and Rotoiti/Rotomā Sewerage Schemes, allowed for an option to pay as an upfront lump sum payment, or a targeted rate option – as per the agreed funding policy for each scheme.