14 July 2021
Media: Te Ao Marama - Maori TV
Topic: Rotorua Homes and Thriving Communities strategy
Enquiry
Is Mayor available to speak on camera Thursday 15th July between 9am-1pm in regards to: Rotorua housing shortage: Council and iwi strategy touts thousands of new homes.
Questions;
- What is this plan about?
- What is the importance of Iwi participation and why?
- How challenging is the housing crisis in Rotorua at the moment?
- When can we see the first families moving into these homes?
Response
Thank you for your interest in the housing plan. The mayor is away for the rest of this week so an interview this week would not be possible but see below information for your understanding and get back to us if you still want to do something at a later time when the mayor is available.
Just for your understanding, the headline you spotted [Rotorua housing shortage: Council and iwi strategy touts thousands of new homes] is from June 2020 (so a year ago) and relates to the He Papakāinga, He Hāpori Taurikura Te Poupou Rautaki - Rotorua Homes and Thriving Communities Strategic Framework, which was then in draft and going out to further public consultation. Following that consultation, a finalised plan was adopted by Council in September 2020.
For your reference, you’ll find the finalised strategic framework HERE on Council's website.
A lot of work is now underway in terms of housing, including – as I’m sure you are aware – a taskforce that includes Council, Central Govt agencies, iwi and other stakeholders looking at emergency accommodation and progressing supply of social housing. You’ll find the latest re the taskforce HERE on Council’s website (this includes some other links that may be useful for your understanding).
Housing is a key priority in Council’s 2021-2031 Long-term Plan – you’ll find the plan HERE on Council’s website – go to p14 re housing
Other Council work that relates to housing and is underway includes:
Housing Strategy (developed in partnership with Te Arawa and Central Government agencies):Actions in the strategy are underway in collaboration with the relevant parties/agencies; the plan aims to deliver short, medium and long-term housing solutions and RLC is currently working closely with Central Government agencies, iwi and others to address emergency housing in Rotorua.
Investment in infrastructure upgrades including wastewater, roading and stormwater is underway throughout the city: This is ongoing and Council’s 30-year infrastructure plan outlines plans to invest $421m into core infrastructure (roading, stormwater, sewerage and water supplies) across the next 10 years to ensure safe, reliable infrastructure that is able to meet current demand and support future demand and housing development.
Council is progressing a District Plan Change to facilitate housing at Pukehangi: Fast-track Plan Change was approved by Government in March this year (see HERE on RLC website and reported by RDP HERE). RLC continues to work with the developers to support the progression of development plans at Pukehangi.
Council and NZTA received Government funding for roading and stormwater upgrades to support proposed housing at Wharenui: Planning for this is underway/progressing - see bottom of p64/top of p65 of the last Operations & Monitoring Committee agenda HERE re update on CIP funding provided for infrastructure to enable housing at Wharenui. The proposed residential development at Wharenui is a Ngāti Whakaue Tribal Lands (NWTL) development.
Council is collaborating with Tatau Pounamu Collective on delivery of an eastside locality plan that will address the future needs, aspirations and resilience of communities there: Following approval of a draft plan developed by RLC and TPC, Council has worked with the community – including iwi – and a finalised plan will go to the Full Council for its approval later this month. See HERE for further information about this kaupapa.