14 March 2023
Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: Graffiti
Enquiry
I noticed someone has been busy tagging buildings in the CBD and was wondering if someone can please help me with some comment?
How much does graffiti cost council each year? (If an estimate, how is this calculated?
How many calls about graffiti does council get each year?
What kind of impact does graffiti have for the city/businesses?
What are the benefit of murals and is council currently working on any/plans for any more in town?
Any words for the people doing the tagging?
Response
From DCE Community Wellbeing Anaru Pewhairangi:
Graffiti impacts negatively on how a place looks which, in turn, impacts how people feel so we try to deal with it quickly when it is seen or reported, as do most businesses when it occurs on their properties.
Our public places and spaces are there for everyone to enjoy and vandalism and graffiti spoil this for everyone so it’s always really disappointing to see public buildings, playgrounds and other assets vandalised or tagged.
Where we become concerned that an area is potentially being targeted we work with local groups and schools to create murals that add local flavour, create a sense of community ownership and help deter graffiti.
It is a crime and where relevant we report graffiti to the police to be dealt with as a criminal matter. Graffiti reported to Council is referred to our contractors to be cleaned up as quickly as possible.
We can’t estimate precisely in advance how much graffiti removal will cost per year as we can’t predict how much graffiti will occur in any given year but cleaning it up is forecast to cost Council at least $49,000 annually.
That’s operational budget we’d rather invest in positive improvements and proactive maintenance that adds value for our community but unfortunately, not everyone respects our people and our spaces.
Disappointingly, graffiti has increased during recent years and we estimate the cost of cleaning it up this financial year (the year from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023) will total approximately $100,000.
Council has received 407 reports of graffiti to date this financial year, up from 186 for the full 2021/22 financial year and 79 the previous year.
If you see vandalism or graffiti happening, call 111 immediately to report it. If it has already occurred, please let Council know by phoning 07 3484 199 or emailing information to info@rotorualc.nz
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Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Upcoming roadworks on Malfroy Road
Enquiry
13 March:
I was just curious about the Malfroy Rd closure that's been advertised on a big sign at the Ranolf/Malfroy intersection. It says it's from today but it was fine when I drove to work this morning. I can't seem to find anything online about it.
I'm wondering how much of Malfroy Rd is impacted given school drop offs etc. Can you please point me in the direction of where I can find more information if you have it as I think I should do a story to let readers know.
14 March 2023:
The email from school last night said "community alert" and then it was just photos of the digital sign saying Malfroy Rd is closed 6am to 6pm Mon 13th to Wed 15th. The email said "This is a warning, it is all the council has informed us".
I know a lot of parents changed their routes and plannned different drop offs for their kids this morning but the entire road was open. Malfroy Rd is a huge road as you know, be good to know what part is going to be closed given there are three schools along it.
We found a part of Ranolf St, near the Devon St intersection to around Sumner St, was closed but no idea if that's related.
That digital sign has been at the Ranolf/Malfroy roundabout for a couple of weeks.
Response
From DCE Infrastructure and Environment Stavros Michael:
We have become aware that a letter drop our contractors were required to undertake along Malfroy Road about upcoming resealing, which should have happened before or at the same time as they put up the digital signs, was not done. We have been informed it is happening today.
We apologise for the confusion this has caused and are following up with our contractor about this.
We understand the contractor is now in contact with the school regarding the timing of the work.
The work on Malfroy Road is part of a large programme of road resealing at multiple sites that also includes a portion of Ranolf Street.
The work is between Ann St and Ranolf St and you can add the following to info I sent earlier:
Our contractors have advised us today that they plan to do the resurfacing on Thursday, subject to weather.