25 June 2021
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Clinkard Ave street lights
Enquiry
In relation to the replacement of streetlights in Glenholme on Clinkard Avenue:
We've been informed by a member of the public that these lights were working well and since they have been replaced it is like there are no lights on at all.
- When were these lights replaced?
- On which streets have lights been replaced in Glenholme this year?
- Why were the lights replaced?
- How often does the council replace streetlights?
- Has the council received complaints about lights on this street?
- How much does the council spend on streetlights each year?
- How much did the council spend on these streetlights?
- Are all streetlights in Rotorua equal? Or are different bulbs used in different areas?
- Which contractor is responsible for maintenance of streetlights in Rotorua?
Subsequent questions:
Here are some further comments from the public about the streetlights.
- As we've written in previous, we've been informed by a member of the public that these lights were working well and since they have been replaced it is like there are no lights on at all.
- Another resident says there has been no light on at all on some nights.
- Residents have expressed concern about children's safety in the early onset of dark during winter as the lights do not always come on or are darker than before. They are worried motorists wont be able to see kids biking on the footpath.
Response
Last year Council announced that work to convert street lights in Rotorua to LED technology was underway (the LED install programme is on track to be complete by the end of this month). You can read Council’s news item about this HERE and it should answer some of your questions. Additional information is provided below.
Additionally, if residents have concerns about Council services in their neighbourhood we encourage them to get in touch via our Customer Centre on 07 348 4199 so that these concerns can be lodged and looked into by the appropriate team.
The following can be attributed to Council’sDCE Infrastructure & Environment and Primary CDEM Controller, Stavros Michael:
The upgrade to LED lights in the Glenholme area commenced in December, and Clinkard Avenue was upgraded in January.
Most lights in the Glenholme area had been upgraded by the end of April 2021.
Has the council received complaints about lights on this street?
Not specifically about Clinkard Avenue. Over the last six months there have been 34 complaints to Council about street lights in the Glenholme area. The majority of these were related to street lights being out.
How much does the council spend on streetlights each year?
Around $800k p.a. which includes power consumption, maintenance and renewals. The projected savings from the $2.6 million investment in the LED upgrade is around $360k p.a.
Are all streetlights in Rotorua equal? Or are different bulbs used in different areas?
Due to the old sodium lights being less reliable than LEDs, over the last two to three years, if a sodium light failed, it has generally been replaced with a new LED. Consequently there are LED lights in some streets that existed prior to the upgrade programme.
The LED upgrade programme is limited to Council’s local roads. Therefore streetlights on state highway networks and park/reserve roads are likely to have a combination of LEDs and non-LEDs.
Which contractor is responsible for maintenance of streetlights in Rotorua?
Local electrical firm McKay.
Response to subsequent questions:
As mentioned earlier, we have not received any complaints regarding lighting in Clinkard Avenue however we will get our contractor to assess the street lights to ensure they are operating correctly. Again, if residents have concerns about services such as lighting, these should be directed to Council so we can look into it.
Also just reinforcing, as discussed on the phone, our previous response stated that we have not received any complaints regarding lighting in Clinkard Ave.
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Media: Local Democracy Reporter (Whakatane based)
Topic: Collection of regional council rates
Enquiry
I’m working on a story regarding the Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s move to collect its own rates and how this might impact the operations of district councils.
The Ōpōtiki District Council CEO Aileen Lawrie has said that her council will need to raise its rates 1.2 percent to cover the shortfall in revenue it will no longer receive from the regional council.
Are you able to please tell me how much the Rotorua Lakes council charges the regional council to collect rates and what the actual cost of collecting these rates is?
Response
The following information was provided:
RLC charges a service fee of 2% of the rates collected for BOPRC which covers the cost of providing this service.
That amounts to approximately $250,000 per year.
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Media: Newshub (TV)
Topic: Rotorua housing taskforce
Enquiry
Producer requested interview with Mayor Chadwick about the work of the housing taskforce in Rotorua, in preparation for an interview this afternoon with Minister Woods.
Response
Mayor spoke with producer
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Media: Freelance writer for German newspapers
Topic: Homelessness
Enquiry
New-Zealand based freelance reporter working for two German newspapers sought interview with Mayor Chadwick for an article about the impact of COVID in Rotorua and homelessness.
Response
Mayor spoke with reporter.
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Media: NZME
Topic: Collection of regional council rates
Enquiry
You may already be aware that BOPRC is no longer paying district councils to collected rates on its behalf, as detailed in this story: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/bay-of-plenty-regional-council-makes-moves-to-collect-own-rates/2NBUEZTVINOR4UN7H2ECGGJ7NE/
We would like to get a response from you to this. Can you please tell us:
- is this decision a surprise? Or something that has been in the works with you for a while?
- do you support the decision? If so why, if not why not?
- what impact will this have on your council? Please elaborate if this will result in any job losses (if so, how many), and what money your council has been paid by BOPRC for the service in the last year which will be lost by this move.
- BOPRC say this will save regional ratepayers about $2m each year but what impact, if any, will this have on your ratepayers and why? (I note Ōpōtiki ratepayers will face a 1.2 per cent increase to cover the shortfall)
Please feel free to add any additional information or comment you would like included.
Response
From DCE Organisational Enablement, Thomas Collé:
We were informed of the regional council’s decision several months ago.
Re do you support the decision? If so why, if not why not? It is a decision for the regional council.
There is no impact on jobs.
RLC charges a service fee of 2% of the rates collected for BOPRC, which covers the cost of providing this service. That amounts to approximately $250,000 per year.
If we were unable to reduce costs to totally offset the lost revenue, it could impact rates although we can’t estimate today what that could be as the change is not yet in effect.
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Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: RLC organisational realignment
Enquiry
I've received these comments I'd like to supply to the council and or mayor to respond to if desired.
COMMENTS:
Reynold Macpherson:
The line up questioning the appointment of seven Deputy Chief Executives to date includes the ex-Mayor of Rotorua, Graeme Hall, the National MP of Rotorua, the Hon Todd McClay, and the National Spokesperson for Local Government, Christopher Luxon. The defendants apparently now include the ex-Labour Mayor of Rotorua and the Hon Nanaia Mahuta, Labour Minister of Local Government.
While the RDRR is most grateful for support in its campaign for the restoration of democracy, the rule of law, financial prudence and power to elected members, it is not a sub-branch of the National Party. The issue being debated is not a party-political issue.
The scandal is around a bloated and therefore wasteful bureaucracy that, under the Mayor's leadership, has branded calls for pay cuts to indicate sympathy with a Covid-ravaged community (embarrassingly supported by the PM) as "morally reprehensible." Morse specifically, it is about the unprecedented expansion of Tier 2 appointments in a relatively small district council, ostensibly to address new strategic leadership challenges but with little observable change in roles, and if ever implemented, will require back-fill appointments at Tier 3 to sustain management services.
Either way, the result will be a top-heavy and expensive bureaucracy with scant regard for service productivity and cost control. To ratepayers struggling with rates affordability issues, it is profoundly offensive.
RDRR therefore urges ratepayers to attend the Council meeting on Monday 28 June at 0930 to hear the reasons for what appears to be a raid on ratepayers' resources. And hear why the local call for an independent review of Council's administration will be refused by the Mayor's majority, primarily on behalf of too powerful officials who are hell bent on protecting their privileges.
Response
Nothing from council or the mayor re this but thanks for checking.