21 July 2021
Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: Shortage of urban planners
Enquiry
In my reporting I've noticed a few mentions here and there (from RLC and others) about councils' struggles hiring urban planners. It appears, from what I can tell, that there are too few planners in New Zealand, meaning chances of employment are pretty high for planners - they're in a fairly strong bargaining position when it comes to employment.
I am working on a story that will explore if that is indeed the case, and if so, how it is affecting councils and their ability to enable - particularly - residential growth in a national housing crisis. And following on from that, if there are enough people training to become planners, and what the Government may or may not be doing about that.
From the council, I would like to know:
- Is Rotorua Lakes Council finding it a struggle to hire planners? Does it have enough planners to carry out the work it needs to do, currently?
- How much does the council spend on salaries for planners, total?
- Have you seen that go up? Since when?
- Is it a struggle to keep pace with market rates for planners?
- Is the council managing to keep on top of the demand for consenting, particularly for new developments / subdivisions? Is that impacting on housing development in Rotorua [district]?
Response
From Jean-Paul Gaston – District Development, Deputy Chief Executive:
We are not alone in the challenge of recruiting planners, it is nationwide problem. Along with many other Councils, we are finding it a challenge to employ professional staff such as planners, engineers and building staff. We are seeing this at all levels of experience from junior to senior positions. This is happening at a time of increased development activity.
We pay market rates to ensure we are able to attract the right people to do the job. We work hard to deliver consenting services to meet the needs of applicants.
We have recently recruited a Senior Consents Planner and are advertising for another Consents Planner, a Senior Policy Planner and a Graduate Policy Planner to assist with the workload. If we are unsuccessful with recruitment, we are looking to support the current planning team and processes with planning technicians.
Where appropriate, our staff will absorb any increased workload but to ensure we keep moving forward, we do have work that is going out to consultants right now to assist our team.
Rotorua has a lot of upcoming and continuing development across the public and private sector. As a location, we are offering both unique work challenges and opportunities for those looking for a world-class lifestyle.
Planner Salaries: The total remuneration for our planning staff is $833,884 and our Planning roles are:
- Consents Planner (2)
- Intermediate Consents Planner
- Senior Consents Planner (2)
- Senior Policy Advisor
- Senior Policy Planner
- Team Lead - Planning RMA Policy
- Team Lead Planning and Consent
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Media: Stuff
Topic: Kainga Ora motel purchase
Enquiry
Any chance of some comment from Steve about the Boulevard motel purchase?
Only snag is I'd need it quite soon!
If so, wanted to ask whether Steve welcomes the move, and for her reaction to Todd McClay's comments that it's a bad idea for Rotorua?
Response
Reporter was informed Mayor Chadwick was away sick. Reporter contacted Deputy Mayor Dave Donaldson who made the following key points:
- Council is working collaboratively with Central Govt and other agencies on short and longer term housing solutions.
- This [purchase of Boulevard] is a positive move.
It will be properly managed with wrap-around services provided
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Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Kainga Ora motel purchase
Enquiry
I am working on a story about the purchase by Kāinga Ora of the Boulevard Motel on Fenton St, which will provide over 80 people with short term transitional housing with wraparound support services. I was hoping Mayor Steve Chadwick would be able to provide some comment around this:
- What are your thoughts on this purchase by Kāinga Ora?
- How are council working with Kāinga Ora and other agencies involved to ensure this short term transitional housing is successfully implemented?
- Please feel free to add any other comments you wish to add.
Response
We advised both the Mayor and Deputy Mayor were away and provided the following information to assist the reporter:
In terms of the Housing Taskforce here is some information that may help you understand how the taskforce works in collaboration and where council’s role sits amongst that.
News items :
13 May – Rotorua Housing update – Statement from Mayor Chadwick and media release from Housing Minister Megan Woods and Minister of Social Development Carmel Sepuloni https://www.rotorualakescouncil.nz/our-council/news/news?item=id:2e4ve4hyn17q9s31zi50
30 June – Statement from Mayor and Statement from Housing Minister Megan Woods - https://www.rotorualakescouncil.nz/our-council/news/news?item=id:2emyygaet17q9syii7cw
1 July – committee hears updates on CBD plan process and housing –
https://www.rotorualakescouncil.nz/our-council/news/news?item=id:2ekomtkow17q9s5ndgmm
This information was provided to Cira which also may help you understand council’s role in creating more housing:
RE: Council’s role in creating homes (general, not just specific to Kainga Ora houses):
Housing is a key plank of the proposed 2021-31 Long-term Plan which was adopted at the end of June. See pages 14 - 16 of the LTP HERE re actions relating to housing. As set out in the LTP, the target for building and developing new homes is 3000 in 5 years (6000 by 2030) and additional land available for 4000 residential sections.
Work on an inner city strategy is underway. Please note reference to CBD on p16 of the LTP document re proposed inner city incentives policy which will, in part, aim to encourage accommodation and residential development in the CBD.
Also underway are actions outlined in the Draft Economic Development Strategy Framework which includes actions relating to the CBD:
- Build investment and development confidence in the CBD through an Inner City Plan and targeted incentives
- Partner with major investors and developers to establish 2 place making CBD projects that support inner city residential living
- Partner with Central Government to ensure investment supports city vibrancy and resilience
For your reference, you’ll find the Draft Economic Development Strategy HERE
Other mahi currently underway
- 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 the 30-year infrastructure plan that was adopted alongside the 2021-31 Long-term Plan outlines plans to invest $424m 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 their housing 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 3 June Operations & Monitoring Committee agenda HERE re update on CIP funding provided for infrastructure to enable housing at Wharenui
- Council is collaborating with Tatau Pounamu Collective on 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, we have been working with the community and a finalised plan will be presented to elected members for their approval soon. See HERE for further information about this kaupapa. The final plan was presented at the SP&F meeting on 8 July and the committee recommended that it go to full Council for approval later this month.
- Long-term infrastructure planning is underway See above re 30-year infrastructure plan and LTP
Other mahi also underway in relation to housing: See below excerpts from pages 45 and 46 of the3 June Operations & Monitoring Committee agenda (agenda is HERE) re updates on housing-related mahi the council is undertaking (this includes Taskforce mahi but you’ll also see reference to other work that’s underway and relates to housing)
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Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: Significant Natural Areas (SNAs)
Enquiry
Kia ora, I am working on a story about Significant Natural Areas and have some comments to provide to the council and mayor for right of reply if desired.
Can the council please clarify if McKenzie's statement that half of his farm is an SNA is true and also if it is true the SNAs on his land were designated by aerial map alone? For that purpose - his farm is at 289 Kapukapu Rd, Kaharoa.
COMMENTS
Lachlan McKenzie claims half of his 390 hectare farm has become a Significant Natural Area.
Of that, 50ha includes cypress trees, a North American species.
McKenzie says the council "looked at an aerial map and said it was a native" and didn't visit the sites.
"It's land theft by legislation."
He preferred the QEII voluntary system as it instilled "pride in the farmer" and was a partnership approach, but Significant Natural Areas provided "no choice, no discussion".
"We have to empower the farmer to do the right thing. You cannot control the people with a big sledgehammer."
He wanted the Government to come and talk to him and other farmers about their land, provide help to control pests and weeds or "come and buy it off me".
He also wanted Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick and Rotorua councillors to advocate for farmers to central government, conveying their feelings about Significant Natural Areas and the National Policy Statement on Indigenous Biodiversity.
COMMENTS
Federated Farmers Rotorua-Taupō regional president Colin Guyton said Significant Natural Areas with non-indigenous trees on it was "pretty common" in the region.
"A lot of Significant Natural Areas were done from a map in an office."
"There are potentially areas that should be SNAs that have been missed."
Guyton said a council rates remission for SNAs bigger than 20 hectares should apply to all properties no matter how big the SNA.
"If you can't make any money off that land but you're still getting rated on it, it's a bit unfair."
Response
Deputy Mayor Dave Donaldson was contacted and made the following key points:
- Council’s job is to give effect to the NPS
- A number of SNAs where they have other protection, such as QEII, were removed from our District Plan
- Seeing what I’ve seen in Marlborough and the Hurunui over recent days, the last thing I would advocate to Govt for, as an elected member, is to ease up on environmental protections
- I have received and observed mixed views from farmers
RLC organisation response:
No comment from the council organisation on the views given by Mr McKenzie and Mr Guyton regarding SNAs but see information below relating to 289 Kapukapu Rd and general info re SNAs and PC3 for your assistance.
Information re 289 Kapukapu Rd:
Re how much of Mr McKenzie’s land at 289 Kapukapu Rd is an SNA: the parcel of land linked to this address totals 88.5ha and 21.5ha of that (approximately 25%) is an SNA.
We would need to be able to correctly identify the remainder of Mr McKenzie’s 390ha farm to correctly ascertain the percentage of the total farm that is an SNA.
Council records show that the property you have referred to (289 Kapukapu Rd) was one of the properties where SNA boundaries were to be reviewed as part of Plan Change 3. This followed a request by the landowner in 2015 for ground-truthing to be undertaken. Access to the site was subsequently denied so the review with respect to this property was not progressed.
Re Plan Change 3: see HERE re Council decision in December 2020 and see HERE full info about PC3 but I have extracted some key facts below for you in case that helps.
Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) General
- District Councils in New Zealand are required, under the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA), to control land use to protect significant indigenous vegetation and significant habitats of indigenous fauna in their areas.
- Councils are also required to give effect to regional policy statements with regard to identifying and protecting SNAs.
- The protection of significant areas of indigenous vegetation or areas that provide significant habitat for indigenous fauna is identified as a matter of national importance under the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA)
- Council works with expert ecologists to identify SNAs.
Plan Change 3
- Council’s decision on PC3 (in December 2020) followed significant consultation, public notification for submissions and further submissions and the hearing of submissions by commissioners.
- Plan Change 3 involved:
- Adding new significant natural areas to the planning maps and District Plan’s list of significant natural areas
- Extending some existing significant natural areas
- Removing several significant natural areas or parts of significant natural areas from the District Plan due to alternative legal protection for these sites
- Reconsidering the boundaries of some existing significant natural areas.
- This process saw more than 50 additional sites added to District Plan as SNAs, as well as amendments to boundaries of some existing SNAs.
- Most of the new sites considered reflected a commitment Council made when issuing its decision on the District Plan, in 2014, to consider sites identified as potentially significant but requiring further investigation.
- Plan Change 3 also considers refinement of the identification of SNAs in response to concerns raised by landowners and new information that has become available since the initial set of SNAs were adopted in the District Plan.
- Advice was sought from ecologists on the extent and significance of the areas, in terms of the regional policy statement criteria. Many site visits were undertaken to address concerns raised during consultation about the extent and significance of some areas.
- As notified for submissions, the plan change proposes the addition of 1,350 hectares and the removal of 270 hectares from the SNA maps. Sites with alternative legal protection were excluded from consideration, consistent with the current approach of the District Plan.
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Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: School holiday busyness in Rotorua
Enquiry
I'd like to work on a story about the school holidays in Rotorua and how the city has fared so far.
I was wondering if I could get comment from staff from council facilities like the Aquatic Centre about how busy they have been and if the facilities have been busier than normal, if it is running a school holiday programme, how popular has that been and if the council has an info on out-of-towners visiting.
I will of course also be going to RED.
Am I able to get anecdotal comment on this by the end of the day please?
Response
From Leah Burgess, Rotorua Aquatic Centre Facility Manager:
School holidays are a busy time for us. This year we’ve seen an increase in visitors from the same time last year.
The annual Under 16 Division 2 Nationals hosted by Rotorua Water Polo is on until Wednesday 21 July and Swimming NZ held training sessions over two days as part of their tri-series tour which involved 48 people including two local swimmers.
We had an extra busy weekend with rugby league teams from all around the country coming down for a swim and a hot soak after playing in the NZ Māori League Teina Tournament that was held out at Puketawhero Park.
Our Inflatable Fun programme is in place daily throughout the holidays. While the Water Polo tournament is underway in the deep pool we have little inflatables available for tamariki in the learner pool and from the 22 July visitors will be able to enjoy the Tarzan Swing.
We’re looking forward to ending the holidays on a high note with our monthly family fun day on Sunday 25 July. We encourage everyone to come along and enjoy the inflatables, Tarzan Swing, scavenger hunts, mini tramps and more.
From Steve Watene, Kaihautū Tākaro – Manager, Sport & Events:
This year we have seen an increase in events and activities throughout the July school holidays. It has been particularly busy with sporting events, training camps and tournaments and we’ve seen this increase happen across a variety of codes such as rugby, rugby league, netball, and athletics as well as swimming and water polo.
Rotorua is a popular location for these types of events and activities. We have a variety of venues and outdoor spaces available that can cater to a cross section of sports, and along with our central location to the rest of the North Island, it’s not surprising that our city has been so busy throughout the school holidays.
Events in Rotorua these school holidays:
Toi Ohomai Rugby Youth Cup 22 – 23 July Rotorua International Stadium | 195 pax |
NZ Māori Rugby Development Camps | 90 pax |
NZ Māori Rugby League Teina Tournament U14 boys and girls Puketawhero Park | 1200 pax |
Magic v Tactix Netball 18 July Energy Event Centre | 1800 pax |
NZ Netball U18 Champs Rotorua Netball Courts | 2000 pax |
NZ Emerging Athletes Training Camp – high Performance Tui Lodge, Ngongotahā Athletics NZ | 40 pax |
Water Polo Under 16s Division 2 Nationals – Men’s & Women’s Including a Men’s and Women’s team from the Rotorua Water Polo Club | 2500 pax |
Home and Lifestyle Show | |
Rotorua Basketball Association – Hoopsta Holiday Programme | 100 pax |
Heath Franklin Chopper – The Silencer | 550 pax |
Rotorua Hospitality Awards | 350 pax |
Magic v Tactix Netball (see above) |