26 May 2022
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Consents for MHUD-contracted emergency housing motels
Enquiry
Reporter sought update on where things were at with the MHUD resource consent applications for the contracted motels providing emergency housing.
Subsequent from reporter:
HUD has come back and confirmed the following (pasted below) which is the main part of the story really. From the council I was just keen to know:
- Does the below from HUD mean the applications will be public notified? HUD says it's now "requested" the application be notified, so just confirming that means it will happen.
- What happens now in terms of timing? When will the applications be heard? When do locals have to make submissions by?
- Will the applications be decided by the three independent commissioners?
RESPONSE FROM HUD
The thirteen motels contracted by the Ministry for Housing and Urban Development to provide emergency accommodation are going through the Rotorua District Council consenting process.
The Ministry has supplied additional information to the Council about its applications and recognises that there could be benefit in the wider community having an opportunity to participate in the consenting process, therefore the Ministry has requested the applications are publicly notified.
Subsequent from reporter:
I've just received comment from Restore Rotorua chairman Trevor Newbrook which I need to put to you for right of reply. Can you also let me know as part of your response when the council will publicly notify this and if there had been a delay?
Cheers
This is a big win for Restore Rotorua and the local people of Rotorua. The Resource Consent for the Boulevard was done in secret, behind closed doors and the only thing that has changed is that Restore Rotorua has put public pressure on both RDC and MHUD to be open and transparent.
I believe given the public concern and submissions from Restore Rotorua Members to the Hearing Commissioners on Publicly Notifying the Applications, they would have done so and this is MHUD and RDC trying to save face.
As the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has requested the Resource Consents Applications be Publicly Notified why has Rotorua District Council not done so and when will they get around to it? MHUD was given 2 extensions of time to respond to RDC requests for more information and now we are seeing further delays.
Response
From Manager Planning and Development Solutions Jason Ward:
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has requested public notification of resource consent applications for 12 of the 13 Rotorua motels it has contracted to provide dedicated emergency accommodation for families and children.
This means the panel of Independent Hearing Commissioners appointed to consider the applications does not now need to make a decision about notification as the applicant has requested it.
The request for public notification was made at the same time MHUD provided additional information that had been requested and for which the ministry was granted an extension of time by the panel.
As required as part of the process, Council must prepare a recommended approach for public notification which needs to be approved by the panel, including documentation for each application. That work is underway.
Public notification will occur once the panel has approved the documents and there will be a four-week period for people to make submissions.
Each consent application requires its own public notification.
A timetable for hearings and decision-making by the independent panel will be advised by the panel in due course.
Notification is expected to occur early June.
MHUD has not requested public notification of the other (13th) consent application, but has advised it will update the panel in the first week of June as to whether it wishes to continue to progress that application or not.
- Does the below from HUD mean the applications will be public notified? HUD says it's now "requested" the application be notified, so just confirming that means it will happen. yes
- What happens now in terms of timing? When will the applications be heard? When do locals have to make submissions by? See above
- Will the applications be decided by the three independent commissioners? yes
Re comment from Mr Newbrook - From Manager Planning and Development Solutions Jason Ward: There is no delay regarding notification. We are required to follow due process and with multiple consent applications and documentation to be prepared for each one there is considerable work involved to prepare for notification, so that people have all the relevant information they need to be able to make a submission.
NOTE: Information about this process can be found at THIS LINK on Council’s website and information relating to the applications, once notification has occurred, will be uploaded to Let’s Talk/Korero Mai where people will also be able to lodge submissions.
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Media: NZME (Rotorua Daily Post and BOP Times)
Topic: Addressing climate change
Enquiry
I'm writing a story on climate change impacting insurance and am contacting all the council's in the Bay with some questions I was hoping you could please help me with.
I understand this is less likely to relate to RLC so of course please only reply to what is applicable.
- what council areas, including what developed areas, have been identified as being at risk to climate change?
- What are these hazards?
- Are there any new developments in these areas or anything planned?
- Are there any areas where development or further development is not allowed?
- What kinds of issues have arisen from impacts such as sea-level rise and flooding events in the last 20 years?
- What kind of work is being done to address and monitor climate change issues such as sea-level rise and flooding?
Response
From DCE Environmental and Infrastructure Solutions, Stavros Michael:
Adapting to and mitigating against climate change is a key priority for Rotorua Lakes Council, as set out in our 2021-31 Long-term Plan (see HERE – go to pages 17 and 18 re climate change) and we have a Climate Action Plan (see HERE) which provides a blueprint for combating climate change in our district.
The plan includes actions relating to delivery of key infrastructure when upgrading or building new with a focus on strengthening climate change resilience.
For example, climate change is factored into every stormwater project we do with a view to increasing capacity to deal with the rising number of intense weather events that create a risk of flooding. We are also undertaking projects like the detention dams currently being constructed at Linton Park to help reduce the risk of homes flooding and we work together with our regional council to reduce flood risks related to waterways – such as in Ngongotaha following flooding there several years ago.
Re planning: The Rotorua District Plan identifies areas more prone to flooding as a result of climate change and sets consent conditions to mitigate those risks.
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Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Police funding to protect businesses
Enquiry
Today, Police Minister Poto Williams announced $6 million in funding for a police-run programme to protect small businesses against crime and ram raids.
Reporter provided THIS LINK to an article about the announcement.
In light of the above announcement, it would be greatly appreciated if the council could provide attributable comment in response to the following questions:
- What does the council think of this news? Could this be of benefit to Rotorua?
- How would this fund and programme affect the council's work in crime prevention around Rotorua CBD?
- How could this programme affect the council's processes around approvals for protective measures such as bollards?
Response
Re your third question, we’re not able to say at this stage what, if any, effect this programme may have on council processes to approve the likes of bollards but see below some general response:
From Deputy CE Community Wellbeing Anaru Pewhairangi:
Anything that will help to make our community safer is obviously a good thing and I’m sure it will be welcomed by local business people. Council already works closely with our police and we would be keen to understand more about the programme to see whether there is any way that we may be able to contribute to this locally.