8 Jan 2025: council services to Gee and Fairbank roads, Waitangi Day
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Council services to Gee and Fairbank roads
Enquiry
I am hoping to request a comment from council for an article I am writing about a carcass that a resident had requested to be collected from Gee Rd in Owhata on Nov 4. The resident said they called 5 times since November but the carcass was missed twice by council staff because of the long grass and was still uncleared as of yesterday Jan 2, 2025.
The first time she called to have it removed was in November but I will paste her letter to the council, which The Daily Post was cc'd on, below.
I would also like to ask the [following] questions for my article:
Whose responsibility it is to mow the berms along Gee Rd? The resident has commented that it used to be mowed all the way back to the fenceline but now only one strip next to the Rd is being mowed. She says the long grass is the reason why the large carcass was missed twice by council staff.
The residents on Fairbank Rd have commented that cameras along Gee Rd would be a good idea as many people use the Rd to dump household/moving house rubbish and do burnouts in cars.
Does the council have a record of the number of times illegally dumped rubbish has been picked up from Gee Rd ?
The residents are also questioning what their rates are being spent on if they have to install their own fibre cables for good internet as well as living with interruptions to their water supply - "Sometimes you turn the tap on and no water comes out for 10 minutes, I don't know why what is."
Could the council provide comments about the services that are provided for Fairbank Rd residents?
What location does the council classify as rural on Fairbank Rd, is it correct that the boundary is on that road and not all of the street is considered rural?
Copy of letter of complaint
Subject: Lack of Response to Reports, Roadside Maintenance, and Unjust Impoundment of My Dog
Dear Rotorua Lakes Council,
I am writing to express my deep frustration and disappointment regarding several unresolved issues that highlight a lack of responsiveness and fairness in the Council's operations.
Since the 4th of November, I have made multiple calls to report a dead animal carcass dumped on Gee Road where I walk my dog daily. Despite these efforts, no action has been taken to remove the carcass, which remains in place, decomposing and attracting maggots. I have attached a summary of these phone calls and invite you to verify my claims with your call centre records.
Call Log Summary:
First Call: 04 November
o I reported a dead carcass in the street, highlighting the health hazard, my dog's interest in it, and the need for its removal.
o No action was taken following this call.
Second Call: 18 November
o Followed up on the carcass report. Provided power pole numbers to assist in locating the site, given the overgrown berms on the road.
o No resolution was provided.
3. Third Call: 20 November
o Reiterated concerns about the carcass and emphasized its continued presence and health risks.
o No action was taken.
Fourth Call: 21 November
o Called again to report the carcass and the lack of progress in its removal. I dragged the remains into a more visible location (hence ruining my running shoes) to avoid using my hands.
o No action or update was provided.
Fifth Call: 22 November
o A final attempt to seek action.
o Despite this, the carcass remains untouched! Today it is still there, 27th December!
In addition to the above, I also reported dumped rubbish and the poor state of roadside maintenance during one of my calls. While a small strip of grass was subsequently mowed, it is unclear whether this was the Council’s doing or the result of a homeowner's efforts. Given that my household pays $5,500 annually in rates, I am deeply disappointed that essential services such as rubbish removal, roadside maintenance, and carcass disposal are being neglected.
To make matters worse, my dog (a 12-year-old working dog) who is unwell and losing his ability to move easily was impounded. This is the first year he has not been registered, a decision made consciously due to his condition and the limited time he has left. Over the 12 years I have owned him, he has never crossed Te Ngae Road alone, nor is he in the habit of leaving the property unattended. The claim that he was picked up from Charles Road is highly questionable, as he is terrified of crossing that road, even on a lead with me.
I strongly dispute this claim and suggest that the Council provide photographic evidence of pickup points to substantiate such claims in future cases. This would be a simple and transparent solution to avoid disputes like this.
I would also invite you to rethink the infringement issued for my dog roaming. If the Council had acted promptly and removed the rotting carcass and bones as initially requested, my dog would never have been drawn to the area. This entire situation could have been avoided with timely and adequate action.
Do better, Rotorua Lakes Council. Earn the substantial rates we pay because we receive very few benefits, in Gee and Fairbank Roads, for the rates we are expected to pay.
I look forward to your response and expect immediate action to:
1. Remove the carcass that I have reported multiple times.
2. Address the dumped rubbish in the area.
3. Conduct proper and thorough roadside maintenance.
4. Review the circumstances of my dog’s impoundment and waive any associated penalties, given the questionable circumstances of his pickup and the reason he had been returning to the carcass.
Please confirm receipt of this letter and provide an update on the actions to address these concerns.
Response
From Director Infrastructure and Environmental Solutions Russell George:
Regarding removal of remains of carcass: Reports of illegal dumping are generally dealt with by our contractors swiftly but we accept that in this instance the level of service we should be providing to our community was not met and we apologise.
We have investigated and are putting in place measures to ensure this does not happen again.
The bones, which appeared to be the remains of an animal that had been butchered, were removed by contractors on January 6.
Note for the reporter: As you would have seen when you went to the site, it was not a whole carcass but bones on both sides of the road remaining from what appears to have been a butchered animal. Please make that clear in your article because most people would associate the word carcass with a whole dead animal.
Regarding roaming dog: Dogs found roaming may be impounded and in this instance, the dog was also unregistered.
It is the responsibility of owners to ensure dogs are, at all times, either adequately secured on their property or under their control.
On this occasion, Animal Control retrieved the dog on Charles Road on December 9, 2024. Council has reviewed the circumstances and has declined to waive the penalties.
Owners are also required to register their dogs annually and should contact council to discuss their circumstances if there are issues related to this. If a dog dies and an owner has paid for current registration they can request a refund of what remains of the yearly registration fee. Information about this is available on Council’s website: Dogs Online Registration - Rotorua Lakes Council.
Regarding mowing of berms: Council has not been moving the verges on Gee or Fairbank roads up to the fence line. Like other rural roads in the District, these are mown twice a year with vegetation mown to 2m from the edge of the roadway. Vegetation control is recognised as a major factor in road safety and rural mowing is done to provide adequate sightlines at intersections and entranceways and to signs, hazards and edge-marker posts.
Regarding the letter to RLC from Hayley Ellen: We will respond directly to Ms Ellen rather than via the media.
Regarding installation of internet cabling: Council does not install internet cabling. These are services provided by internet companies.
Regarding interruption of water supply and services provided to residents on Fairbank Road: Council provides water services to specified areas (“service areas”) where residents can expect a certain level of service to be maintained. Gee and Fairbank roads are outside of the Rotorua Urban water supply service area, but receive water supply to the boundary of each property via a water main from the Rotorua East water supply.
Although some of the higher properties in Fairbank Road may receive lower pressures than other parts of that supply at times, a constant supply should always be available and Council will always respond and repair any faults reported within the same time targets and to the same standard as properties within the service areas. Properties on Fairbank Road receiving the water service are metered and pay the standard targeted metered water rates.
In the last 18 months Council has received one call relating to water pressure or flow in Gee and Fairbank roads. At that time the pressure and flow at the boundary was found to be within the expected urban area level of service. Some dwellings are at higher elevations which will lower water pressure and flow so they have their own pumps and tanks to transfer water from the supply at the boundary. Fixing any faults with that equipment is the responsibility of the property owners.
A wastewater service is not currently provided on Gee and Fairbanks roads so owners of properties there don’t pay wastewater rates. Weekly refuse collection is provided and a targeted rate for this applies to properties receiving this service. All other council facilities and services (eg regulatory, animal control) are also available to residents in this area.
Regarding illegal dumping on Gee Road: During the past 12 months council has received reports of two illegal dumping instances on Gee Road, the carcass remains and the dumping of household rubbish in November 2024.
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Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Waitangi Day events
Enquiry
Reporter asked about events on in Rotorua for Waitangi, aside from two key events she was already aware of, at Te Puia and Wai Ariki Spa
Response
Reporter was informed that Council is not running any Waitangi events and was encouraged to check RotoruaNui events website for any other events that may be happening
