8 December 2022
Media: New Zealand Herald
Topic: Medium Density Residential Standards (MDRS)
Enquiry
I am doing an article on the housing intensification policy [Medium Density Residential Standards] that has been mandated and fast-tracked by central Government.
I will be focusing on the impacts this policy will have on smaller towns and centres. I've heard from two councils in the Waikato that they do not favour the policy, saying while it may be suitable for bigger cities such as Auckland it is not suitable for smaller towns. They say it is a big city solution that will ruin the look and character of New Zealand's small towns.
They are not against intensification and know that it is inevitable but say a solution more suitable to smaller areas needs to be established.
I am also trying to find other Council's who may have the same viewpoint or similar viewpoint and I wondered if you would be able to tell me what Rotorua Lake's views are on the policy and how it will impact the region? Will this be a negative or positive impact?
Response
We provided the following information:
Inclusion of Rotorua in the MDRS followed a decision of elected members to seek the inclusion of Rotorua in the legislation.
Other parties independently also sought the inclusion of Rotorua in the MDRS – Rotorua Chamber of Commerce, Te Tatau o Te Arawa, Te Arawa Lakes Trust.
Following an assessment of Rotorua housing needs, the Government subsequently included Rotorua in the MDRS.
The MDRS is considered another way to encourage more residential development and provide more housing choice to help address our district’s an acute housing shortage.
Our district’s inclusion in the MDRS was announced in March 2022 (Government announcement - Rotorua Lakes Council)
The MDRS took immediate effect on 20 August this year following public notification and Rotorua Lakes Council is currently consulting on a Housing Plan Change that proposes additional new heights and density rules for the district to further increase housing supply and choice.
Alongside the District Plan change Rotorua Lakes Council is starting work on a Future Development Strategy that will take a long-term view of how and where development happens in Rotorua and what is needed to support that such as infrastructure and community assets to ensure the right kind of development occurs in the right places.
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Media: Newshub - The Hui
Topic: Mayoral discussion
Enquiry
Mayor Tania Tapsell was invited to be on the show this week (Monday night) alongside two other Maori mayors
Response
You can view the episode via THIS LINK
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Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Ngongotaha Motorsport
Enquiry
[NOTE: this is a following up to an enquiry responded to earlier this week regarding Ngongotaha Motorsport]
Can you please provide more information about this point?
- In 2018 the matter was taken to the Environment Court which issued a determination instructing Mr Khan to cease motorised sporting events at this location until a Resource Consent has been obtained.
Why was the matter taken to the Environment court? On what grounds? Was this solely to do with a lack of resource consent or was there more to the matter?
Response
The following additional information was provided:
The Abatement Notice was breached on more than one occasion and it was apparent to Council that there was an intention to continue to carry out motorised sporting events at the site, in breach of the abatement notice and the District Plan (ie as previously outlined, in breach of the District Plan by operating without the required consent). These reasons and the concerns of the community and partner agencies led to an enforcement order application being lodged with the Environment Court.