10 April 2024
Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: Skate Park
Enquiry
I have some comment regarding the skate park being excluded from the draft LTP for response, and a couple questions please.
I have already got some comment from the December workshop and the consultation document including:
Councillor Robert Lee questioned whether it should be removed from the draft given the annual plan decision to defer, and wanted to see it “somewhere in the next ten years”.
Corporate services group manager Thomas Collé said borrowing against its internal limit was “razor thin” and it was projects like the skate park that would fill the gap.
The draft plan consultation document said the council recognised in 2018 the existing skate park at Sheaf Park was in poor condition, had reduced in size and aged equipment was removed.
The Rotorua Action Sports Charitable Trust was formed last year to raise funding. “It was intended that funding applications by the trust would be supported by a council funding commitment”.
But it said given the six years gone by and the remaining funding was not achieved it was “more prudent” to reduce its debt rather than increase it.
For response:
The trust's chairman Ryan Gray said: “We will be fighting this as it’s absurd to drop a project nine years in the making with wide community support.”
Gray said the multi-wheeled-sport facility was needed as the city’s existing parks were outdated and people travelled elsewhere to other skate parks.
He said the trust developed a strategic plan with Sport Bay of Plenty to attract funding, and had received indications from some funders the project could be eligible.
“We have been working with the council since 2015 on this project, and are very disappointed to learn that our work to date could be dumped.”
And people supported the project, he said. Council consultation in 2018 showed the community “overwhelmingly” wanted a new skatepark, and some funding was set aside at the time for it.
“We want the council to retain this funding which will contribute towards the larger cost of building a new skatepark. The majority of funding will come from non-ratepayer sources.”
Gray said the trust hoped to fundraise through usual community funding sources through to selling naming rights and sponsorship of the park.
It also wanted to establish a not-for-profit skate school and after-school and holiday programmes.
“While we understand the council is under pressure to cut costs to keep rates down, we think investing in our city through action sports infrastructure, helping keep people engaged in community activities through action sports and helping them to build connections and confidence will improve lives and our city."
And
Denise Sturt, wife of late councillor Charles Sturt, said her husband would have been devasted if the project was scrapped.
"That would be really sad . . . people were expecting it to get approved."
"He was really keen to get [children] away from the other skatepark . . . wanted something safe, something they could use." He wanted it to be family-friendly, multipurpose and draw international events.
"It would be a shame if they canned it all together."
"The youth of Rotorua really need it."
"He was always into anything for [the] youth of Rotorua."
"He would be jumping up and down."
She wanted it to be included in the plan even if no funding was allocated - if it was not mentioned she feared the project would never happen.
"Can you imagine the state of the other park in 10 years time? I know the economy is tough but you've still got to provide services."
Can I also ask what happened to the kowhai Charles Sturt donated before he died? What will happen with it?
How much money has been spent on the skatepark project to date?
If it was noted in 2018 the Sheaf Park facility was in a poor condition does Denise Sturts' question around what it will be like in another ten years have merit? Please explain.
If the project is excluded from the finalised plan what will happen to the site?
Can I also ask how many submissions roughly the council has received so far on the draft LTP?
Response
From Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell:
“We currently have six skate parks in Rotorua and this new Council has a priority to be prudent with spending.
“The total cost of the project has previously been expected to cost $2.5m, with Council offering to cover $750,000 of this, and unfortunately the additional external funding required to build the skate park has not yet been raised.
“I agree it’s been a very long time since this was requested and our Council, like many people in our community, are restricted in what we can spend. So it’s right that we confirm with our wider community what they’d prefer we prioritise spending on.
“We can’t have it all so we’re focusing on delivering essential services first. We’ve provided our community with other options for extra spending, like hydro-slides at the Aquatic Centre, but we’d like them to confirm they’re okay paying additional rates for this.
“Council remains open minded and won’t make a final decision until all feedback is received.”
From Group Manager Infrastructure and Environment Stavros Michael:
We encourage people to give feedback on Long-term Plan proposals via the consultation process so that this can be considered by elected members when it comes to decision-making to finalise the plan.
Council has previously indicated a $750,000 contribution towards the total estimated cost of $2.5m and $94,000 has been spent to date on preparing the site that was proposed for the skate park. This includes the cost of soil preloading which has been grassed over. If the project is excluded from the finalised plan, the area will remain as is.
Regarding Sheaf Park, some features have been removed due to deterioration over several years and Council will continue to maintain the park.
The kōwhai tree donated by the late Charles Sturt is being looked after at our nursery until a planting site is finalised.
Information (not part of quotes from Stavros):
Since consultation opened on 4 April, 25 submissions have been received via email and our online platform Let’s Talk| Kōrero mai. Council has also engaged with more than 200 people at our consultation events held so far. People can find out about what’s proposed for the 2024-34 Long-term Plan, ways to provide feedback and planned events by going to www.rotorualakescouncil/LTP
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Media: Newstalk ZB
Topic: Illegal dumping in Wrigley Road
Enquiry
Is there any chance Craig Goodwin or someone else from Council would be available for a chat about this Wrigley Rd clean-up day you're having to clean up from on Heather du Plessis-Allan's show this afternoon? https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rotorua-daily-post/news/kainga-ora-clean-up-goes-wrong-on-rotoruas-wrigley-rd-as-outsiders-dumped-piles-of-rubbish/YV36I55HSZFLJMKJDCYG7ZLYGM/
Response
We thanked them for the opportunity but noted that as this was a Kāinga Ora initiative it would be more appropriate to seek comment from them.
We attached RLC comment provided to other media yesterday for their use if they wished.
From Craig Goodwin, Manager: Waste and Climate Change, Infrastructure & Environmental Solutions:
From Council’s perspective, it is disappointing this Kāinga Ora community collection initiative has been abused, leading to extra costs disposing of materials that were not intended to be collected and/or cannot go in the skip bins that were provided. This is classed as illegal dumping and we have sent our contractors, Smart Environmental, to clean up these dumpings today. We estimate the cost could be $3000 to $4000 but will know once the work is completed and Kāinga Ora has been in contact and informed us it will cover this cost.
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Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: CCTV cameras
Enquiry
Can I ask if the CCTV is all manually reviewed or if there is any use of facial recognition?
Response
We provided the following information: Our CCTV is monitored manually and although some cameras have the ability to use facial recognition, there are no plans to use this technology.
