4 April 2023
Media: Newshub
Topic: Maori-led housing
Enquiry
Mayor Tapsell was asked to participate in a NewsHub interview about Māori-led housing initiatives.
Response
See the interview here.
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Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Emergency housing
Enquiry
I'm just doing a bit of an update on the emergency housing situation in Rotorua at the moment based off the latest figures from MHUD for February.
- What changes have been made/conditions put in place since the commissioners released their decision in December last year?
- What changes/conditions are yet to be implemented?
- Have any former non-contracted motels applied to have resource consent to operate as an emergency housing motel?
- Does the council monitor/stop mixed-use (emergency housing clients and visitors) motels? If so, how many have been made to stop this practice?
- Does the council know if there are still motels operating as mixed-use motels in Rotorua? If so, will they be made to stop?
Feel free to add anything else about the conditions or the accord in general you think will be helpful for me to know.
Response
From RLC DCE District Development Jean-Paul Gaston:
Conditions were set in commissioners’ decision on each of the 13 motel applications. These conditions do not change. They came into effect when the appeal date was passed, which was on 1 February. Council is visiting each establishment to confirm conditions are being met. No former non-contracted motels have applied for a resource consent to operate as an emergency housing provider.
Council’s role is regulatory ie to ensure accommodation providers have the appropriate consent for the activity they are undertaking. That is what council monitors and we continue to work through a phased approach to ensuring that accommodation providers have the appropriate consents. This work is ongoing.
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Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Outstanding rates payments
Enquiry
*Enquiry is a follow up to previous enquiry on this topic 28 March)
I am writing up on the outstanding rates and have the below from Reynold Macpherson I would like to put to council for response.
"The unpaid rates to $5.4 million is one indicator of how unaffordable rates have become. Our community and its economy have been deeply affected by three crises - Covid, inflation and the homeless industry. When Council says that it does not expect the cost of living to impact on rates payments it indicates a willful ignorance or casual indifference to suffering in our community. A more prudent and caring response would be to cut another $5.4 million from expenditure."
Response
From DCE Organisational Enablement Thomas Collé:
The outstanding rates amount of $5.4m is not abnormal and is consistent with previous years.
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Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Fire in public toilets
Enquiry
There has been a fire in the well-used public toilets on Pukuatua St.
Can you please advise what the extent of the damage is, how long the toilets are expected to be out of action, and how much this is likely to cost to fix?
Link to article HERE.
Response
The following information was provided:
The fire started in the sanitary bin which will need to be replaced but the damage to the toilet cubicle itself was largely superficial and can be remedied with a deep clean, which will mean the toilets should be re-opened by Thursday. There was also minor damage to the door which requires repair. The estimated cost to clean and repair the damage from the fire may be about $550.