27 April 2021
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Local barrister's paper on homeless accommodation
Enquiry
I've been given a copy of a paper written by local barrister Kevin Badcock on the use of tourist accommodation as emergency housing in Rotorua.
I've attached the paper for your information in case you haven't seen it.
I'm seeking the council's response to the following questions?
1.Has the council been made aware of the paper?
2.What does the council make of the findings?
3.Does the council have concerns over the running of emergency housing in terms of compliance with the district plan?
4.Has the council done anything or is the council doing anything to make changes to the district plan to allow this practice to lawfully continue?
5.How difficult is it to change the district plan?
6.Has this paper taken the council by surprise?
7.Has the council alerted central government to the possible problems with the running of emergency housing in other areas that are zoned for tourism accommodation?
8.Has the council sought its own legal advice?
Question for mayor Steve Chadwick
1.Given the content of this paper, do you still think it's not the council's business to tell motel operators who they can and can't rent their premises to?
2.Do you have any concerns based on the content of the paper?
Response
From Rotorua Lakes Council Chief Executive, Geoff Williams:
Rotorua Lakes Council is aware of and shares the community's concerns.
The Government's current approach to emergency housing does create some challenges with the district plan - this is not an issue that is confined to Rotorua. It is just one of the issues that we have worked on with relevant Government agencies and ministers.
Implementing sustainable solutions for Rotorua requires a collaborative, cross-agency approach, and council is actively co-ordinating this effort alongside those other agencies.
Rotorua's complex housing challenges were not created overnight. The situation was further exacerbated by the impacts of COVID-19, which resulted in an urgent need to accommodate families and individuals.
From Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick
I am aware of what the community is saying and the concerns that they are raising with council, including what has been outlined in Mr Badcock's paper.
I have been lobbying with a sense of increasing urgency for solutions for Rotorua and I am pleased that the Government has listened to our calls and we have a team working here in Rotorua, alongside council and iwi to develop better options for our community.
The fact is that for the first time in our country's history, we are confronted with the reality that a generation of New Zealand children is growing up in motels - this situation is untenable.
Government officials are now working together, with urgency, to establish suitable, short-term solutions so our families are safe and supported, while we also work towards medium and long-term options.
________________________________________________________________________________________
Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: Tarawera sewage reticulation proposal
Enquiry
I've got some comments from the Tarawera sewerage reticulation community meeting last week for the council's right of reply.
Lake Tarawera Ratepayers Association chairwoman Libby Fletcher:
"While the Lake Tarawera Ratepayers' Association is 100 per cent supportive of reticulated sewerage for Tarawera, we're disappointed with the proposed Rotorua Lakes Council payment terms."
"The price has increased markedly, the payment in August 2024 is to be a lump sum, the proposed amount is open-ended and there is no provision for payment over 25 years as all other sewerage schemes have benefited from."
Resident Wayne McDougall said the variation in cost was "where the fear and terror is".
"I've seen what councils do, they put out to tender then there are variations.
"What I'd like to hear is ...they do the process tight, that is is designed, here is the cost, here is the tender, here are the costs fixed and that is what we pay, and anything else is on the council.
"We have to rely on your expertise and we don't want to have to have an open cheque book."
Resident Fred Stevens said he and other residents wanted "a bit of fairness".
"I've been told we're all rich buggers here. We're not.
"Be fair and just give us the same deal as everyone else."
After the meeting he told Local Democracy Reporting the council was "basically asking [us] to sign a blank cheque".
The East Rotoiti / Rotomā Sewerage scheme, which began construction in 2018, gave benefitting ratepayers a choice of paying a $14,100 lump sum or paying off their contribution in $1080 annual payments for 25 years. Got this from the council website - is that all still current/correct?
Speaking to Local Democracy Reporting after the meeting, Buried Village owner Pam McGrath said most people in the community agreed with reticulation, but it was the upfront cost that was challenging.
"It's the fact we don't whether it's 33 [thousand] or 40 something [thousand] why should we be lumbered with an upfront sum?"
She said for a tourism business which has struggled through the pandemic, on top of regular rates, the potential financial challenges of the proposed scheme "didn't leave a lot of money to keep the business running".
McGrath said she and other Tarawera residents already paid rates for things in town the lakeside community didn't necessarily directly benefit from.
"The time's come now when you have to be asked to pay upfront, it's just not fair. It's the fairness we're talking about here."
Response
From Council's group manager infrastructure Stavros Michael:
The Lake Tarawera Residents Association invited officers from Rotorua Lakes Council and Bay of Plenty Regional Council to a meeting last week to provide an update on the Tarawera Sewerage Reticulation project. This was to help inform the association's submission on Rotorua Lakes Council's Long-Term Plan.
We spoke to the association about the regulatory drivers behind the reticulation proposal and responded to questions about the proposed system including the estimated capital costs, responsibility for future management and maintenance, and technical aspects regarding the resiliency of the reticulated system as opposed to septic tanks.
We advised the meeting that Council's estimated cost for the project is based on extensive information gained from reticulating around two and a half thousand houses around other lakes in the district. However, it was also explained that the project detail design and tenders have yet to be completed and that this is subject to Council's approval of the Long-Term Plan. It is therefore impossible to provide a fixed quote, as opposed to an estimate, for the final costs until detailed design and tenders have been called.
Those at the meeting were reminded that letters previously sent to residents clearly indicated that once Council made a decision to proceed with this project (subject to funding confirmation through the Long-Term Plan) firm quotes would be sought from contractors and at that time, all affected ratepayers would be notified about actual costs.
As was discussed at the meeting, Council's current funding plan for this project requires lump sum payment once the project is complete, estimated to be July 2024. The meeting was informed that if they would like an alternative funding plan considered for the project, providing feedback as part of Council's current Long-Term Plan consultation would be the appropriate way to do this.