Official Information Request - Lakefront Redevelopment Boardwalk

Sent: Wednesday, 10 March 2021 1:53 pm

Subject: LGOIMA request - Lakefront Redevelopment Boardwalk

I refer to your email of 23 February 2021 under LGOIMA regarding the Lakefront redevelopment boardwalk, and reply below as per your email:

1. What type of wood was selected to serve as the surface of the boardwalk?Tonka
2. Where did this wood come from?Tonka is sourced from Peru from FSC certified plantation forest.
3. What was the total cost of the wood and its transportation to the worksite?The timber cost, delivered to site, is $250,000 (excl GST) of the total $41m project budget.
4. If the wood source is not indigenous, why was a New Zealand wood source not selected?Discussions were held with Scion and New Zealand timber suppliers but a New Zealand sourced solution that met strength, quality and availability was not found. Tonka is an extremely strong and durable hardwood. This was selected due to the structural requirement to create the flexibility to improve how we address lake weed build up after a northerly storm. We will now be able to drive a digger (up to 7tn) on the boardwalk to clear lake weed.
5. Given Rotorua's international standing as a wood design research centre, why was a local lamination solution not selected?Discussions were held with Scion and New Zealand timber suppliers but a New Zealand sourced solution that met strength, quality and availability (including a laminate solution) was not found.
6. Will a hand or foot rail be installed as health and safety measures, in addition to the lifebelts on racks?No hand rail will be installed. There is a 50mm rail at ground level in order to stop wheelchairs, and prams from going over the edge. This is also coloured with a black lighting strip to contrast the white concrete to assist vision impaired with seeing the edge. This was designed in conjunction with the Blind Foundation and also local accessibility input. The lifebelts were for HEB workers during construction only as while working on the boardwalk in an unfinished state they are often head down concentrating, and the presence of tools creates additional work hazards.
7. If hand and foot rail are not to be installed, what health and safety measures will be installed in addition to the lifebelts on racks?The boardwalk is well within fall height standards at 600mm above water. The building code standard for fall heights is maximum 1m to ground and industry best practice is 1.5m to water. Note that the existing unprotected lake edge near the commercial operators is at 1.2m with no rail and other lake structures such as jetties do not require handrails. Water depths below the boardwalk will typically be 600-900mm once the lakebed has settled and the boardwalk is open to the public. We also have ladders on each of the Tukutuku bridges and our lake edge rip rap has been formed with locally sourced pancake style rock to ensure access in and out of the water. Refer to number 6 above regarding the specific purpose of the lifebelts during construction.

You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this response. Complaints can be sent by email to info@ombudsman.parliament.nz, by fax to (04) 471 2254, or by post to The Ombudsman, PO Box 10152, Wellington 6143.

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Regards