30 August 2023
Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: Future Development Strategy hearings
Enquiry
am doing an overview of the hearings for the FDS and wanted to ask if this comment from Brett Farquhar on behalf of Tura Ngāti Te Ngākau me Ngāti Whakaue ki Ngongotahā.was accurate:
“We only have to go back to the 2018 Rotorua Spatial Plan to see not one of the outcomes in that spatial plan has been implemented, with no new residential land zoned.”
Response
From Group Manager Community and District Development, Jean-Paul Gaston:
The Spatial Plan adopted in 2018 took a longer term view of future development areas and supported us with successfully applying for the likes of Crown Infrastructure Partners (CIP) funding. We were starting to see growth we had not seen before and it was good practice to start thinking about where growth needed to go. The Spatial Plan, which will be replaced by the FDS, was an important strategic document to inform early responses to growth and our emerging housing challenges and has stood the test of time in terms of our thinking.
Re re-zoning of land: There has been new residential land zoned at Pukehangi since the Spatial Plan was adopted in 2018 (the Pukehangi Plan Change). Plan Change processes usually take several years and we successfully applied to the Government to use the Streamlined Plan Change Process to progress the re-zoning of Pukehangi Heights.
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Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: Food and organic waste collection progress
Enquiry
This was a follow-up from yesterday’s enquiry re status of work to progress introduction of FOGO to Rotorua, referencing our response yesterday which indicated there was no update at this time, that we were in the procurement phase:
That is an update to what information I have so can I please ask some questions about that.
I don't see any relevant tenders listed so what stage of the procurement process is it at?
What is the likely timeframe for the stages in this process?
Response
We responded that, as indicated yesterday, there is no update at this stage and that any updates on procurement will be in the operational reports that go to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee.
The reporter indicated she was not happy with this and that she did not think she should have to wait for an agenda to get the information.
We responded as follows:
As per the report that went to Council in May 2023 when councillors decided to proceed, the service is expected to be implemented in the 2024/25 financial year subject to their final approval. See p25 of that report.
There is no update to provide you at this time and details can’t be confirmed until after procurement and further decision-making. I will alert you to when there is an update and further detail which you – and the community – will receive at the same time as elected members.
Reporter indicated an alert as soon as there was an update would be appreciated.
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Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: Council's OneCouncil IT system
Enquiry
I just want to be crystal clear about the budget. Appreciate there has been a lot of back-and-forward on this, as always I'm just trying to ensure that I am understanding the information correctly so I can report it accurately. I don't want to assume that an initial allocation is a complete budget.
Not looking for comment, just fact checking.
Was the $3.4 million allocated between 2016 to 2018 expected to be the complete budget for the whole two-stage project?
If not, what was the complete budget estimate at that stage?
If the $3.4m was the original complete budget, then it follows that the overall budget cost of $18,413,700 was about $14 million over budget. Is that accurate?
If not, what is the total amount the project went over it's original estimated budget (i.e. the budget when the contract was signed).
Response
We provided the following information:
It is not accurate to say the final cost was $14m over budget because the budget for the project was increased (as outlined below) – all increases were approved.
When we became early adopters the budget was reforecast over a number of years through our LTP and Annual Plans to an approved $14m budget (refer to previously provided info re costs we incurred as first adopters which we initially were not going to be).
Additional delays and costs from the complexities from being early adopters and Covid-19 impacts (as per previous info provided to you) took the final approved budget to $18.4m
All budget increases for the project were approved.
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Media: Newshub/AM Show (request for Mayor Tapsell)
Topic: Teen assaults
Enquiry
AM Show sought interview with Mayor Tapsell regarding recent teen assaults in Rotorua CBD
Response
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Media: Radio Waatea (request for Mayor Tapsell)
Topic: Teen assaults
Enquiry
Waatea sought interview with Mayor Tapsell regarding recent teen assaults in Rotorua CBD
Response
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Media: Radio NZ, Te Karere, NewsTalk ZB/Drive show
Topic: Teen assault
Mayor Tapsell was interviewed by the above media outlets regarding recent teen assaults in the Rotorua CBD. Recordings not available.
