26 July 2021
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Kawaha Pt Road speed bumps
Enquiry
I've received further comments (see below) from members of the public regarding speed bumps that I need to put to the council for a right of reply.
- "I've remeasured them now with a laser light and they're still over 100mm tall."
"I would have expected the council to go back and check. I don't know if they have." - Buses driving along Kawaha Point Rd had to stop at each of eight speed bumps in one kilometre. Cars driving behind buses often need to slow down to 10km/h
"That's not traffic calming. I call that traffic frustration.
"I don't have a problem with speed bumps in general but these are overkill. They're vicious."
- "I don't remember the council asking the people living [on Kawaha Point Rd} what we thought."
- The council could have made more revenue by installing solar-powered speed cameras and ticketing drivers who refused to obey stop signs.
Response
Council does not have any specific comment in response to the comments. Please see information below for your understanding. This can be attributed to Stavros Michael – Infrastructure & Environment DCE if required.
- Council staff supervised the repair work as it was carried out. A physical template was used to ensure that the speed bumps did not exceed 100mm.
- Installation of speed bumps on both roads was at the request of residents and local police, as well as on the basis of a risk assessment that council undertakes for minor safety improvements.
- Letters were delivered to residents in both areas (Ford Road and Kawaha Point Road) in November 2020 to notify them of the work. That letter included the number of speed bumps to be built and residents were able to provide feedback at that time. No specific concerns were raised during this time.
- Prior to construction, information was also shared on council’s website and updates about the work were included in council’s monthly Operations & Monitoring Committee Agendas since November 2020.
- Council does not have jurisdiction to enforce adherence to speed limits or to infringe/collect revenue for speeding offences. You would need to speak to the Police about this.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Media: Blame the Media
Topic: Lakefront redevelopment imagery
Enquiry
Kia ora, I curate a website on landscape architecture and I’m keen to update our story on the lakefront. Can you please email me the photos and drone footage from the opening of the first stage. I’d also appreciate any news releases you put out about it.
Here’s a link to our website so you can see what we’re about: https://www.landscapearchitecture.nz/
Response
Requester was provided with links to latest releases and updates relating to the project on Council's Vision to Action projects page here and was provided with a link to drone footage of the opening of the lakefront boardwalk and terracing and a link to photos from the day.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Lakefront boardwalk safety
Enquiry
We have received reports of a toddler falling off the boardwalk on Sunday morning and into the water.
Some witnesses to the event made the comments below:
- In my opinion the boardwalk needs to be closed until these safety issues are addressed.
- It's a violation of health and safety regulations I'm aware of. We need to put walls around our pool but we don't around the lakefront?
- It's such a low edging. You could easily trip over it. There are going to be more accidents like this unless some railings are fixed.
We would like to put these comments to the council for right of reply.
Response
From Jocelyn Mikaere, Community Wellbeing deputy chief executive:
We have not heard from the affected party, or from the witness, but we have heard this afternoon from a friend of the witness. We are sorry to hear that a child has had a fall.
From what has been shared with us, the child was being actively supervised which is a good reminder that as with any of our beautiful water spaces around Rotorua, whether it be this new boardwalk, other lake or stream edge paths or our many jetties, we need to actively supervise our children around the water.
Safety is a priority for Council and the boardwalk and other areas of the lakefront development have been designed with that in mind. The boardwalk design met all health and safety requirements and building consent was granted on that basis. The new boardwalk has improved safety along the lake edge. It has raised concrete and timber edging whereas the previous cobbled lake edge had no edging, barriers or rails (prior to 2015 there were low wires between bollards along the lake edge. These were to deter swans from climbing onto the cobbled area, rather than for health and safety reasons. They were deemed ineffective and were not replaced when they rusted out). In addition, there is a black contrast strip against the white concrete to provide greater visual definition of the edge.