12 May 2021
Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: Long-term Plan consultation process
Enquiry
Follow-up questions to Monday and Tuesday’s Long-Term Plan consultation enquiry -
I've received these comments from Disabled Persons Assembly chief executive Prudence Walker and would like to supply them to the council for right of reply.
“Making a full detailed written submission can be difficult or inaccessible for some disabled people, hence having the option to make an oral submission to expand or clarify on their written submission is essential.
“An oral submission allows them to provide their feedback on the plan directly with all councillors in a way that is not restricted by the format of written submissions.
“If there is no option to do an oral submission then disabled people’s ability to take part in the democratic process will be impacted.
“While we understand that people have had a chance to speak at council-run feedback session, if these sessions are not fully accessible (such as by providing NZ Sign Language interpreters, live captioning or held in accessible venues etc) or if people cannot raise the issues they want to speak to at these in-person sessions then again disabled peoples’ participation will be impacted.
“Submissions are a way of directly informing and lobbying councillors to raise issues of concern for disabled people , and it is vital that all aspects of the process is accessible, with both oral and written submissions being supported.”
Response
As we’ve previously mentioned, there were a number of opportunities for people to provide verbal feedback directly to elected members during the Long-Term Plan consultation. Any request to meet specific accessibility needs would have been accommodated to the best of our ability if requested.
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Media: NZME (Rotorua Daily Post and BOP Times)
Topic: Lifestyle blocks and second dwellings
Enquiry
I am writing a story on the popularity of lifestyle blocks and building a second dwelling, a granny flat or a tiny house or having a caravan/s on your property.
So I am wanting to know how easy it is to do this and what consents you need and how much it could cost.
How popular are second dwellings on properties within the district and has demand increased or declined in the last 3 years and why?
Do you need a consent for a granny flat or second dwelling - how much does it cost and what are the timeframes behind that?
Does a tiny house need a consent, how much is that?
And what about a caravan or caravans can you have people or family living in a caravan at your place or does that also need a consent - and how much is that?
Response
From Jason Ward, Manager, Planning and Development Solutions:
How popular are second dwellings on properties within the district and has demand increased or declined in the last 3 years and why?
There has been an increase in the number of second dwellings, particularly tiny houses, recently. While we can’t speak to why exactly – that would be a question for landowners themselves – we assume it is due to a greater awareness of the tiny house market in general, and people looking for additional income streams or options for intergenerational living.
Exemptions to the Building Act now allow people to build an additional stand-alone, building for sleeping (without plumbing), that is up to 30m2 and associated with an existing dwelling, that is not required to be consented.
Do you need a consent for a granny flat or second dwelling - how much does it cost and what are the timeframes behind that?
Depending on whether or not the dwelling is constructed onsite will determine what type of building consent is required. Building consents take up to 20 working days to process.
Any second/additional dwelling (including tiny houses) on a property requires a resource consent. The lodgement fee for this is $584.00 (plus any applicable fees) and takes up to 20 working days to process.
Does a tiny house need a consent, how much is that?
The lodgement fee for a tiny house building consent is $1,700 plus any inspection fees that are required.
And what about a caravan or caravans can you have people or family living in a caravan at your place or does that also need a consent - and how much is that?
A caravan is a vehicle and therefore falls outside the Building Act unless it is immovable and occupied permanently – then it would be defined as a building. As caravans are designed to be moved, it is unlikely that they would ever require building consent.
In terms of resource consenting, a caravan, if used as a dwelling, may require a resource consent. We recommend people use Council’s Duty Planning Service to discuss site-specific requirements. Appointments can be made on the Duty Planner Appointment page on the RLC website, or by phoning the Council Customer Centre on 07 348 4199.
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Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Emergency housing
Enquiry
I've just spoken to retired policeman Phil Spackman and he lives on Sumner St, not far from a group of emergency housing motels on Fenton St.
He's told me about how things have been for them in the past year but more specifically on Monday he was attacked by a dog running out of Aces Motel on Fenton St as he biked to the gym. Although the dog was only small, it was enough to knock him off his bike, he got back on, shooed it away and biked off and it chased him.
When he arrived at the gym he decided to call the council's animal control team. He was later told by the team they went to the motel and issued the dog owner with an infringement for having an unregistered dog.
Can you please answer the specific questions below in line?
- Can you please confirm for me that was the case (that animal control attended and issued an infringement)?
- Does the council get called to the emergency housing motels often for complaints about dogs?
- Does the council do random checks at the motels looking for unregistered dogs?
- Do you have any figures to hand about unregistered dogs in emergency housing? (Thinking this is highly unlikely but asking anyway!)
This story is definitely a goer for tomorrow's paper so would it please be possible to get back to me by no later than 2pmtoday with a response?
Let's know how you get on, any kind of response would be appreciated even if you can't get all the details.
Further from reporter:
I've just spoken to Peter Bentley who had a similar incident of being attacked by an unregistered dog that came rushing out of motel.
He estimates it would about 5 weeks ago, but I have a feeling it might have been longer (I recall him trying to raise this matter as an urgent at a council meeting). Sorry I don't have a specific date.
However, he raised the matter with the council's animal control team and was disappointed no infringement was issued to the dog owner for not being unregistered. He was also disappointed the dog wasn't destroyed given it was unregistered and attacked/rushed at him.
- Are you able to also check the outcome of this one (hopefully you can search under his name since I don't have a date sorry) and confirm if that was indeed the case - that no action was taken?
- Can you please give a response to Bentley's criticism that he felt the council turned a blind eye to this dog owner on the basis they couldn't afford to register their dog?
Response
From RLC Manager, Community and Regulatory Services, Kurt Williams:
Can you please confirm for me that was the case (that animal control attended and issued an infringement)?
Council’s Animal Control team did attend this incident. The job was reported as a rushing complaint, rather than a dog attack. Once investigated, it was confirmed as a rushing incident. An Animal Control Officer spoke to the owner about securing the dog on the property and about registering the dog. The owner was issued an infringement for the rushing incident and has since registered the dog.
Does the council get called to the emergency housing motels often for complaints about dogs?
Our Animal Control team has noticed an increase in complaints about dogs at motels over the past year.
Does the council do random checks at the motels looking for unregistered dogs? Not currently
Do you have any figures to hand about unregistered dogs in emergency housing? (Thinking this is highly unlikely but asking anyway!)No
In response to further questions from reporter:
Are you able to also check the outcome of this one (hopefully you can search under his name since I don't have a date sorry) and confirm if that was indeed the case - that no action was taken?
This incident was reported as a roaming dog. Animal Control attended the address, the dog was being looked after by a family member. The person looking after the dog was spoken to, their details and the details of the actual owner were recorded, they were told to keep the dog contained and were given a timeframe in which the dog must be registered.
The owner failed to register the dog. Animal Control returned to the property to seize the dog, however the family and the dog had moved out and haven’t been located since.
Can you please give a response to Bentley's criticism that he felt the council turned a blind eye to this dog owner on the basis they couldn't afford to register their dog?
Council didn’t turn a blind eye. This incident was dealt as we would with any other dog/dog owner. As above, the owner was given an opportunity to register the dog. Animal Control returned to seize the dog when this didn’t happen. This approach is standard practice.