4 October 2021
Media: Rotorua District Council
Topic: COVID-related Civic Centre closure
Enquiry
Regarding the closure of the council building today.
In council's release it describes a staff member as a "loose" contact of a positive case. Are you able to define what "loose" means?
The Ministry of Health said it's not a term they would usually use. They said it may refer to a casual or casual plus contact?
Are you able to clarify this?
Also which section of council did the loose contact work in?
Where did the staff member make contact with the positive case?
Are they and any other staff members self-isolating ?
Can we have these answered by 3pm please.
Response
From Joe Akari, Director People and Organisational Development
As stated earlier [as per notification on RLC website], the move to close the Civic Centre to undertake a deep clean was precautionary. The term ‘loose’ was used to indicate the very low level of risk. The staff member does not meet COVID ‘contact’ definitions but has had a test and is self-isolating while awaiting the result, both as a precaution. No other staff are required to self-isolate.
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Media: Rotorua Weekender
Topic: Community clean-up
Enquiry
I’m working on a story about a community clean-up event coming up on October 16. Since council and Smart Environmental are helping with different resources for the event am I able to get a few comments from a spokesperson to the below questions?
- Why is council happy to support community clean-up events such as this one? In what ways can council help with resources?
- Is rubbish dumping and littering a big problem here in Rotorua? Are there any areas in Rotorua which tend to be hot spots for rubbish dumping/littering?
- Why is it important for us to keep our environment rubbish free and how can people help or do their part?
- Is there anything you would like to add?
Response
From Prashant Praveen, Waste Services and Sustainability Manager:
Council is proud to support a number of advocate groups who are dedicated to caring for the whenua by collecting litter or educating others on the importance of disposing of waste correctly.
The Miss Rotorua Foundation Trust have organised a number of community clean up events, and Council are happy to provide advice and resources to assist.
Depending on the size and location of the clean-up event, Council can provide rubbish bags, gloves, high-visibility vests and other PPE, free rubbish disposal, as well as traffic management if the clean-up is on the roadside.
The majority of our community disposes of rubbish responsibly and really sees value in caring for our local environment, but others underestimate – or don’t care about – the harm they cause to the environment. Rubbish gets blown into streams and lakes as well as creating an unsightly mess and posing a risk to public health and safety.
There are illegal dumping ‘hot spots’ in both urban and rural neighbourhoods. While the majority of illegal dumping takes place in urban areas, typically larger dumping cases occur in rural areas.
Residents are encouraged to look for alternatives to dumping, such as scrap metal yards, second hand stores or online platforms if the items are still in good condition, or sharing trailers and the cost of taking it to landfill. Asking friends, neighbours or other whanau if they have space in their red-lid wheelie bin is also another good option.
How you can help:
• If you witness illegal dumping do not approach the offenders but take notes and photos or videos of the person and their vehicle. This can help with identification and prosecution.
• Report any dumped rubbish on public land to Council as soon as possible so contractors can remove it before people add to it. Contact 07 348 4199 or info@rotorualc.nz
• When reporting rubbish it is very helpful if you supply photos that have a location tag. This can be done by turning on your location services on your smart device before taking the photo. This enables contractors to go straight to the dumping site rather than spending time searching for the rubbish.