23 April 2021
Media: Stuff
Topic: Emergency accommodation
Enquiry
I'm working on a story about the emergency accommodation motel situation here at present, and to that end wanted to ask for some comment from [Mayor] Steve [Chadwick].
It's shaping up to be a fairly broad piece. The starting point at present is the fact we have three hotels and a number of motels out of action for tourism accommodation, so is that having a flow on impact for hospo and tourism ventures, especially now the Aussie 'bubble' is open?
Does Steve know how many motels here are being used for emergency accommodation?
Three motels and however many motels are at present, not open to tourists. Is Steve worried this will have a knock-on effect to the wider Rotorua economy?
Mike Gallagher, chair of the Rotorua Motel Association, has launched a specific booking tool to enable people to make sure they're not booking into a place that also houses emergency accommodation people - it's also an issue that has attracted widespread media coverage. Is this issue beginning to cause Rotorua's tourism image reputational damage?
Response
From Mayor Steve Chadwick:
"We do have accommodation options for visitors. We're not getting the same visitor numbers as pre-COVID and no internationals other than, now, Australians being able to come, and some of our hotels and accommodation haven't been operating at full capacity and will now gear up as needed.
So there is capacity and it's still very early days for the trans-Tasman travel bubble. We're not expecting hordes of Australians to come right away and all at once. Initially it's likely to mainly be people reuniting with family and friends they haven't been able to see for some time.
We certainly hope we'll get a good share of Australian visitors who do come to New Zealand and we have marketing campaigns underway in Australia. I'm aware hits on our Destination Rotorua website are up 176% since the travel bubble was announced, the iSite is getting some enquiries and has seen a few Australian tourists coming through already, and we understand some of our tourism operators are getting calls from Australian travel agents. So there is interest and we hope to see that turning into visits but it's early days.
Any potential for reputational damage would of course be a concern and I know that RED are working to address perception issues through marketing campaigns that are underway both in New Zealand and Australia."
*Reporter was informed he would need to go to MSD for accurate figures relating to number of motels with emergency housing clients.
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Media: Stuff and Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: Manhole accident
Enquiry
Reporters sought report from investigation into accident involving elderly lady falling down a damaged manhole cover in an inner city alleyway. The incident was included in the Operations Report for the Operations & Monitoring Committee
Response
A redacted copy of the report was provided (see HERE).
Some information was withheld under sections of the Local Government and Official Information and Meetings Act (LGOIMA) relating to protection of privacy and unreasonable prejudice to the commercial position of persons subject to the information. This was explained to the reporters.
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Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: Westbrook sporting precinct proposal
Enquiry
I've been talking to a few more people about the Westbrook proposal. I have the below comments for the council's right of reply / response.
I'd also like to know the mayor's perspective on Maraea's idea - what does she think about that idea? Does she think it could be a viable alternative - why / why not?
Comments:
On Wednesday, Fordlands Community Centre programme manager Maraea Pomana told Local Democracy Reporting the suburb has been "crying out" for a community hub for decades. "If Springfield don't want it, we'll have it. "We have open arms to having a sports hub here [in Fordlands]." Pomana said a sport, recreation and community hub in Fordlands would support locals to thrive and would contribute to "breaking the cycle". She said it made sense to invest in a deprived community rather than a more affluent one like Springfield. "Where is the investment for our children? "If you invest in deprived areas and break the cycle then overall that's investing in the whole of Rotorua. "We'll take a smaller version [of the proposed Westbrook hub]." She said the "dream" would be for a Fordlands hub to include facilities like an indoor basketball court, a medical centre, a music studio and a classroom. She said a Fordlands version of the Westbrook proposal could include enabling 20 to 40 dwellings and building a central hub in Huia Lyons Reserve. She wanted to see social and affordable housing scattered across the city rather than concentrated in Fordlands.
"The housing crisis is impacting our community massively." Fordlands Community Centre had set up a housing service which had been running for four weeks. Pomana said in that time, there had been 14 enrolments and six people had been housed in private rentals. One of those was previously in emergency accommodation in a motel, and the other five had been prevented from entering emergency accommodation. The service had been assisted by Visions of a Helping Hand. The council, along with government agencies such as Kainga Ora, the Department of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Social Development were currently working with Fordlands Community Centre "on housing that would suit our community".
Saving Springfield Facebook group founder Dee Dee Kusabs said anything that would save the Springfield golf course "would be a great idea". "The council should be listening to the people who say 'we want it'. "It's a wonderful idea. If it's needed elsewhere, it's a much more palatable proposal than putting it somewhere where no one wants it." She believed the council had "put the cart before the horse" in deciding where the sport and recreation precinct should be located.
Saving Springfield president Robert Lee said the idea of a Fordlands sport and recreation precinct would be "better than putting it in Springfield and destroying the golf course", but he was still concerned about the potential cost of the project. The council had allowed $61 million for it over 10 years in its draft 2021-2031 Long-term Plan. "It's a step in the right direction. The proposal is repugnant to nine out of 10 people I talk to." Lee also queried the concept of sports hubs as he believed it could cause sports clubs to lose their history, culture and identity.
Rotorua MP Todd McClay, who has been vocal about issues arising from emergency accommodation in the city's famous motel mile, said anything in the proposal to do with housing would be years away and "not a solution today". "Many developers who would like to build are frustrated by delays including consenting from the council." He said Springfield golf club members made a "good case" that recreation through golf was important. "Using the current homelessness problem to take the golf course away doesn't stack up.
Response
The following responses were provided:
Council has nothing to add at this time to the facts that were presented at the community meeting this week.
From Mayor Steve Chadwick:
It's great people are having these conversations - I would encourage them to submit their feedback and ideas into the current Long-term Plan process for consideration when this particular proposal comes up for community-wide consultation.
I would also really love to hear from people about the key priorities in the LTP that we are currently consulting on - housing, community safety, economic development, infrastructure, climate change - which are the issues the community has told us are current priorities.