18 August 2022
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Weather callouts
Enquiry
Just checking in to see if council contractors have been called to any weather-related events in Rotorua this morning?
We understand there is a tree down at on SH30 near Hongi's Track.
Response
We provided the following information:
Tarukenga Road was closed last night due to three large gum trees falling across the road and teams are working on clearing those today.
We’ve had no reports of anything else at this stage but Council staff and contractors are on standby to deal with anything that does occur and people are urged to take care on our roads.
Regarding tree down on SH30, you’ll need to contact Waka Kotahi about that as its state highway.
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Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Ram Raids meeting
Enquiry
I am following up on the meeting held on Tuesday about local shop owners concerns about rising ram raids and wondered if I could please get a line or two from council about how it went? I know there were a few reps there.
How did the meeting go and what was council's involvement?
From a council perspective, were there any concerns raised by shop-owners it could address? For instance, I had been told bollard placement could be difficult with council rules.
Was there anything highlighted council could do to help?
Any challenges to achieving solutions?
Response
Regarding the question about how the meeting went, we referred the reporter to the organisers, noting that it was not Council’s meeting.
We also provided the following comment:
From DCE Community Wellbeing, Anaru Pewhairangi:
Council was invited to attend the meeting. While crime-prevention is police-led, other agencies, including council, also have a role to play.
Council contributes where it can through the likes of CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) and our community safety initiatives. I understand there is to be a follow-up meeting to consider a collective response and that agencies that were not part of the initial meeting would be invited.
Regarding bollards: Most are installed on private property so don’t require council permission, but where people want to install bollards on public property like footpaths we have to ensure they won’t impede public access, are not unsafe in positioning or design and won’t interfere with underground infrastructure. We try to keep the process as simple as possible and are always happy to work with businesses to find the best solution.