6 December 2022
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Ngongotaha Motorsport
Enquiry
I’m currently writing a story about Ngongotaha Motorsport’s closure in 2018. The founder said that it was closed due to resource consent issues.
- Why did the track get shut down in 2018?
- What were the resource consent issues?
- What will it take to get the track back up and running?
- How many noise complaints were made about the track and from when? What timeframe was the first complaint made and the final complaint?
- Were there any other complaints about the track?
- Were there any complaints about the smell of tyres?
What has the situation of wheelies and burning rubber on council roads been like over the last 4 years? Is it worse now between 2018-2022 than it was between 2016 - 2018? How many complaints and/or reports have been made during these timeframes?
Has the person/people who was fined $20k paid this (2 separate fines of $10k)? And what were the fines for?
For council response:
“Over two years, I ran 50 events over 2 years with no problems. We had portaloos on site, we had adequate supervision, I didn’t sell alcohol and had no trouble with people using the site appropriately.”
“There were multiple calls made against us and I was initially told the complaints were due to the noise.
However he later learned it was because of “vapour” - that the tyre smell / odor was the real reason for the complaints.
“Complaints were laid against me so many times that I was then handed three abatement notices. I was still operating when I wasn’t supposed to be. Then handed another 2 separate $10k fines, and then I was threatened with jail time so I stopped because I have a daughter to care for.”
Regarding consent, the founder was told “the biggest problem is the entrance to the track.”
Also for council response:
" The options I presented to nzta and council are the exact same options that a consultant representing me free of charge to help me has mentioned and should be good enough. But they are still.being difficult."
"I believe it was council and nzta joined [that shut down the facility, Ngognotaha Motorsport and are preventing it reopening]"
Response
From Kurt Williams, Manager Community and Regulatory Services:
Re why the track was shut down:
The venue was being operated without the required consent. Mr Khan was aware of this requirement.
No consent application was received.
Re enforcement action:
- On 3 July 2017 an abatement notice to cease operating was issued to Mr Khan.
- On 11 July 2017 an infringement notice for $750 (the legislated amount) was issued for breach of the abatement notice.
- On 13 October 2017 a second infringement notice also for $750, was issued for a further breach of the abatement notice.
[please note, just one abatement notice was issued, not 3 as Mr Khan has stated. The abatement notice was issues because he was operating without the required consent, not because of the number of complaints – see more below re complaints]
No further infringement notices have been issued by Rotorua Lakes Council. [Tamara, we do not know what the $10k amounts you have mentioned are. Council issued no $10k fines.]
- In 2018 the matter was taken to the Environment Court which issued a determination instructing Mr Khan to cease motorised sporting events at this location until a Resource Consent has been obtained.
General information re resource consent
A resource consent is required under the Resource Management Act (RMA) in cases where what you want to do isn’t allowed as of right (permitted activity) under the Rotorua District Plan. The consent application may also need to be publicly notified if it will affect the community (affected parties) in a significant way – unless all affected parties have provided written approval.
The property where Mr Khan was previously running events was zoned Rural 1 (working rural) under the Rotorua District Plan and ‘motorised sporting events’ on private land in this zone are defined as a “controlled activity” and therefore require a resource consent.
Obtaining consent is also dependent on applicants ability to meet the requirements of any other relevant agencies which in this case included Waka Kotahi (NZTA), the Police, Bay of Plenty Regional Council and the Department of Conservation. All of these agencies were contacted for initial consideration/comment.
Complaints about the track
5 complaints were received between 1 August 2016 and 8 July 2017, all of which related to noise concerns. One of these complaints also alleged smoke/odour from burnt rubber.
Please note that the track was shut down because it was being operated without the required resource consent, not because of the number of complaints received.
Re what will it take to get the track back up and running:
The activity requires a resource consent.
No application for resource consent has yet been received.
Council has had recent initial contact from a representative of Mr Khan’s who has been advised about requirements for a consent.
If an application is received, our staff will work through the standard process with Mr Khan and/or his representatives in good faith. Consenting is a formal, legislated process that takes account of the anticipated effects of the proposed activity and where applicable, any wider effects.
Re Mr Khan’s statement about the entrance to the track being the biggest problem:
[please speak to Waka Kotahi (NZTA) regarding this as it relates to concerns that agency had over ensuring safe access to and from the site from the state highway.]
Re: What has the situation of wheelies and burning rubber on council roads been like over the last 4 years? Is it worse now between 2018-2022 than it was between 2016 - 2018? How many complaints and/or reports have been made during these timeframes?
Council has no record of any such complaints but it is possible that any such calls received were referred to the police who have the authority to deal with it. [you may be able to get information or comment from the police regarding complaints of this nature that they deal with].
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Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Consenting in 2022
Enquiry
It's that time of year again where we gather a story about a wrap-up of the building consents issued in 2022. My questions are below:
- How many residential building consents were issued from January 1 to November 30? I understand December consents will be released next month.
- What was the dollar value of residential building consents issued from January 1 to November 30?
- How many commercial building consents were issued from January 1 to November 30?
- What was the dollar value of commercial consents issued from January 1 to November 30?
- What were the top five biggest commercial consents issued from January 1 to November 30 in terms of dollar value? Please include address, value, and what the consent was for.
- Please may I have some comment from the council comparing the dollar amount and number of consents issued from January 1 to November 30 this year compared to 2021? Please also include some commentary around what contributed to the rising/falling trend.
- May I also please have the top five biggest commercial consents in terms of dollar value for November 2022?
- How many residential consents were issued in November 2022?
- What was the dollar value of commercial consents issued in November 2022?
- How many commercial consents were issued in November 2022?
What was the dollar of commercial consents issued in November 2022?
Response
The following comment and information was provided:
From Jean-Paul Gaston, DCE District Development:
“Our planning and consenting teams have had another extremely busy year and we are working with a number of key developers and iwi groups planning further residential development or looking for new commercial development opportunities in Rotorua.
“Numbers of both residential and commercial consents are down on 2021 this year and this reflects a number of international and national factors, for example, supply issues, cost escalations, changes in interest rates and tightening of borrowing parameters by banks.
“It has been great to see progress on some residential developments that will contribute towards addressing our acute housing shortage, and it is pleasing to see a continued level of commercial investment, all despite the cost escalations that we have been seeing.
“We look forward to seeing this continue into 2023 and beyond.”
Information re 1 Jan to 30 Nov for the past two calendar years:
2021 | Total value of commercial consents issued 1 Jan to 30 Nov 2021 - $104,181,850Total value of residential consents issued 1 Jan to 30 Nov 2021 - $149,407,677Total number of commercial consents issued 1 Jan to 30 Nov 2021 – 128Total number of residential consents issued 1 Jan to 30 Nov 2021 - 1036 |
2022 | Total value of commercial consents issued 1 Jan to 30 Nov 2022 - $71,105,500Total value of residential consents issued 1 Jan to 30 Nov 2022 - $158,407,942Total number of commercial consents issued 1 Jan to 30 Nov 2022 - 103Total number of residential consents issued 1 Jan to 30 Nov 2022 - 983 |
November 2022 information:
Total value of commercial consents issued in November 2022: $2,162,000
Total value of residential consents issued in November 2022: $12,274,250
Total number of commercial consents issued in November 2022: 15
Total number of residential consents issued in November 2022: 86
Top 5 in value (commercial consents) for November 2022 below:
NEW CLASSROOM WITH WET AREA AND KITCHENETTE | 34 KEA ST | $1,500,000 |
RELOCATED OFFICE BUILDING AND CONSTRUCT CONTAINER SHELTER | 58 MARGUERITA ST | $150,000 |
ALTER DECK AND REPLACE STEPS, REPLACE INTERNAL DOOR | 597 SETTLERS RD | $100,000 |
INTERNAL FIT OUT FOR NEW RESTAURANT | 1251 HINEMARU ST | $100,000 |
REMEDIAL WORK ON FIRST LEVEL DECK | 415 HAMURANA RD | $90,000 |
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Media: Rotorua Weekender
Topic: National Aquabots competition
Enquiry
Reporter got in touch for a follow-up story about the National Aquabots Competition that was held last weekend and had the following questions:
- How many teams ended up competing and what sorts of areas around NZ were they from?
- What was the atmosphere like throughout the competition?
- How did it feel to have so many young people come together to take part in AquaBots? Why is this important/great to see?
- How did holding the nationals at Tauranga rather than the Rotorua centre go?
- What teams have progressed on to the MATE International Competition? What will this entail?
- Is there a couple photos from the day we could use? Anything you would like to add?
Response
From Jessica Cathro, Rotorua Library Technology Educator:
- How many teams ended up competing and what sorts of areas around NZ were they from? There were 44 teams from across the country; including Northland, Masterton, Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Invercargill, Nelson and Christchurch. Approximately 174 Year 4 - Year 12 students attended the event. These were made up of ten primary teams, 19 intermediate teams, seven high school teams, four kura kaupapa teams and six open teams.
- What was the atmosphere like throughout the competition? There was a steady buzz of activity the whole time. We had sole use of the pool so everyone at the event was involved whether judging, supporting or participating. There were shouts of joy as teams successfully attempted parts of the activities such as placing the materials correcting under water or retrieving that last object, as well as groans as the ball fell off at the last minute or time was up. It was great to hear from parents and whānau who were really positive about students having the opportunity to be involved in these types of projects.
- How did it feel to have so many young people come together to take part in AquaBots? Why is this important/great to see? It was great to see so many young people from all ages, stages and walks of life. We had girls from Zayed College in Auckland as well as young students from Kura Kaupapa presenting in te reo. We had such a diverse mix of teams showing that technology and science is for all people. The event also offers an opportunity for students to meet other kids who are interested in the same things and get ideas on how to develop their robots next year.
- How did holding the nationals at Tauranga rather than the Rotorua centre go? It added complexity with some of our normal judges, volunteers and swimmers being unable to attend. However, on the plus side we had sole use of the pool which made things much easier for the teams.
- What teams have progressed on to the MATE International Competition? What will this entail? The following teams won their section of the National AquaBots competition: The Devil Marines from Rotorua Primary (Primary division), The Floating Toaster from Parua Bay School (Intermediate division) and Rodney Rays from Rodney College (High School division). The teams that won their divisions, primary, intermediate and high school, will be able to enter the international Seaperch competition in May 2023 in Maryland, USA.
The Open teams need to submit a video demonstrating their robots features and skills before progressing to the international MATE competition in June 2023 in USA. Team Tahi from the TAM Young Engineers will have that opportunity. All the teams will need to upgrade and update their robots to be able to cope with the new challenges that the international competitions offer. If they decide to travel to the USA they will need to prepare and fundraise a significant amount of money as well.
- Is there a couple photos from the day we could use?
Images were provided
- Anything you would like to add? We would not be able to run AquaBots programmes and the championships without our generous sponsors, judges and volunteers. We would like to express our thanks to Hayes International, Marine BioSecurity, Rata Foundation, The Lakes 380 and Te Putea Whakatupu trust for their support.