Updates from Infrastructure and Environment Committee and Council
Infrastructure and Environment Committee meeting
The Infrastructure and Environment Committee has approved starting the process to revoke the reserve classification of a council-owned reserve on Tarewa Road.
The site of an old playground that was removed in 2021 following public consultation, Pururu South Recreation Reserve no longer has any value to the Council’s open space network.
The reserve holds cultural significance for Ngāti Kearoa Ngāti Tuara and a heads of agreement with Council obligates the council to facilitate the return of lands.
The 0.0437-hectare (ha) parcel of land at 35 Tarewa Road was vested in the Council in 1964 as a donation from Mr Pat Ruhi, who at the time offered this property along with part of the Pururu North Reserve, both of which were accepted.
The land was gifted to the Council at the time with the specific intention of providing a recreational space for the community.
Council’s Heads of Agreement (HoA) with Te Paiaka Lands Trust and Te Runanga O Ngāti Kearoa Ngāti Tuara recognises the importance of a number of significant cultural sites to Ngāti Kearoa Ngāti Tuara, including the Pururu North Reserve, Pururu South Reserve and the Karamu Takina Springs among others.
Reserve status for the Pururu North Reserve was revoked in 2020.
Initiating the process to revoke the reserve status for Pururu South Reserve would reinforce the Council’s strategic priority of supporting genuine partnerships with iwi and mana whenua, the report to the committee noted.
Go to p46 of the meeting agenda to read the full report on this matter.
View this part of the meeting via THIS LINK in the meeting recording.
View maps related to this matter HERE.
Also on the agenda
Regional council presentation: Representatives from Toi Moana – Bay of Plenty Regional Council spoke to the Committee about their Council’s 2023/24 Annual Plan priorities.
View the presentation slides from this update at THIS LINK and view this part of the meeting via THIS LINK in the meeting recording.
Operational updates: The Committee received updates from the Infrastructure and Environment group.
Go to p15 of the meeting agenda to view the report from this group and view this part of the meeting via THIS LINK in the meeting recording. The slides for a presentation about stormwater services that was part of this progress report can be viewed HERE.
Civil defence update: The Committee received an overview of the role and responsibilities of local government in respect of Civil Defence and Emergency Management and work being done by Rotorua Lakes Council to further enhance its civil defence efforts.
Go to p26 of the meeting agenda to view the report on this, view the presentation slides HERE and view this part of the meeting via THIS LINK in the meeting recording.
Confidential matters: Three matters were dealt with in confidential today, meeting minutes from 6 September and 13 September and an item relating to a contract for upgrading the filtration treatment plant at the Rotorua Aquatic Centre.
Go to p50 of the meeting agenda to view the reasons for dealing with these matters in confidential.
View the full public meeting agenda at this link on Council’s website: public-agenda-infrastructure-and-environment-committee-meeting-4-october-2023.pdf (rotorualakescouncil.nz)
Today’s meeting was livestreamed and you can watch the full recording of the meeting via the following link on Council’s YouTube channel: Infrastructure and Environment Committee - 4 October 2023 - YouTube
Extraordinary meeting of Council
An extraordinary meeting of Council was held today to confirm, by resolution of Council, the appointment of Gina Rangi as Interim Chief Executive of Rotorua Lakes Council.
The appointment, which requires a formal decision of Council, is for up to six months while a new chief executive is recruited following Geoff Williams’ retirement from the role.
Mayor Tapsell said the recruitment process had now begun, with an external agency.
She expressed appreciation for Ms Rangi stepping up to the position and undertaking the CE duties in the interim.
You can read the report on this matter at the following link on Council’s website: agenda-extraordinary-council-meeting-4-october-2023.pdf (rotorualakescouncil.nz)
The meeting was livestreamed and the recording can be viewed at the following link on Council’s YouTube channel: Extraordinary Council Meeting - 4 October 2023 - YouTube