Strategy, Policy & Finance Committee decisions
Support for agreement for Karamu Takina spring and return of lands
The return of land associated with the Karamu Takina spring to Ngāti Kearoa – Ngāti Tuara is a step closer with support from Council’s Strategy, Policy & Finance Committee today.
The committee has supported a proposed Heads of Agreement to establish a new partnership approach for the ongoing management of the Karamu Takina spring and to provide for the return of the land.
The Heads of Agreement will better enable effective working relationships with mana whenua and will better enable Council to deliver good infrastructure outcomes for the community as a whole, a report to the Committee notes.
The matter will now go to the Council for final consideration and decision-making with the Committee recommending that Council approves starting the process to revoke the reserve status of the recreation reserve under the Pururu Reserve South and that it approves the vesting of two sites to trusts, for the benefit of Tarewa Pounamu marae and Ngāti Kearoa – Ngāti Tuara.
The sites are land formerly known as Pururu North Reserve, which was used for tennis courts, and land at Tihi-o-tonga and are no longer needed for the purposes for which they were originally gifted.
In 1954 the Māori owners agreed to allow the then council to access the spring, asking that the land be leased rather than purchased. However, the council insisted the land must be sold, not leased, to council and noting it could be taken under the Public Works Act if they did not agree.
The Committee heard that Ngāti Kearoa – Ngāti Tuara have long felt a deep sense of grievance about this but despite that, continued to contribute to the Rotorua community by gifting of lands for use as reserves along Tarewa Road, including the Aquatic Centre site.
Speaking to the committee today, chairwoman of Te Runanga o Ngāti Kearoa – Ngāti Tuara Robyn Bargh talked of the pain of these previous decisions and of the “landmark decision” for the current council and mana whenua to work in partnership to make right what happened while also enabling the ongoing provision of water supply to the Rotorua community.
It was noted that the Heads of Agreement would also include a $60,000 council contribution to support the preparation of a written history of the spring, the reimbursement of $161,027 in water rates that were wrongly charged between 2002 and 2014, and the cost of land transfer expenses, estimated at no more than $20,000.
Go to p22 of the meeting agenda to view the full report on this matter.
You can go directly to this part of the recording of the livestreamed meeting via THIS LINK.
Committee supports recommended project for Three Waters “Better Off” funding
The Strategy, Policy & Finance Committee has today supported a recommendation that the $8.05m to which the Rotorua district is entitled in the first tranche of the Government’s Three Waters “Better Off” fund go towards the Aquatic Centre redevelopment.
The Council had to decide firstly whether to formally apply for its entitlement and then needed to indicate in its application what it intended to use the funding for. The Council decided in June that it would apply for the Rotorua district’s entitlement.
Following an evaluation and prioritisation process after that decision, it was recommended to the Strategy, Policy & Finance Committee today that the funding be used for the Aquatic Centre redevelopment.
It was determined that this project best fitted both council’s agreed criteria and the criteria set by the Department of Internal Affairs for fund applications, which must be submitted by September.
The project faces cost increases in the current construction environment with Stage 2 tenders, which are currently being evaluated, also coming in above the budget that was set for the project in 2020. A report to the Strategy, Policy & Finance Committee notes that the very high level of construction inflations that has occurred due to COVID19 impacts on supply and demand were not anticipated at the time the budget was set.
The Strategy, Policy & Finance Committee today agreed that the “Better Off” funding entitlement should go towards the Aquatic Centre redevelopment.
Stage one of the Aquatic Centre redevelopment, the upgrade of the outdoor 50m pool and outdoor change rooms, is already complete.
Stage two will involve refurbishment of the main pool hall and front-of-house.
Stage three will include proposed new features including a learn-to-swim pool, a new café, fitness centre, upgrading of the spas and new hydro slides and water play with external funding to be sought.
Go to p12 of the meeting agenda to view the full report on this matter.
View the presentation slides relating to this matter HERE on Council’s website.
You can go directly to this part of the recording of the livestreamed meeting via THIS LINK.