News Release

Friday 27 February 2015

Strong support for inner city initiatives

A raft of potential initiatives for Rotorua’s inner city revitalisation has overwhelming support according to feedback received by Rotorua Lakes Council.

The council has now completed collation of feedback from local business operators on a number of possible projects identified in its draft Inner City Revitalisation Strategy.

Once adopted, the strategy will set out the future direction for inner city revitalisation action in the city, one of the key priority goals of the Rotorua 2030 vision developed by the council in partnership with the community.

The council’s Inner City Revitalisation Portfolio lead, Councillor Karen Hunt, said a number of ‘meet and greet’ sessions had been held with businesses as well as workshops and meetings between elected members and key stakeholders.

She said feedback had also come in through a number of other channels, including an online survey, emails and written comment.

“We’re certainly very encouraged by the responses we received. They indicate that we’re on the right track and that our inner city business community is largely supportive of where the council and its partners are going with our strategy to reinvigorate the inner city.

“Our team made direct contact with every inner city business and invited them to complete our survey on the draft Inner City Revitalisation Strategy. More than 80 per cent of those surveyed were satisfied overall with projects implemented over the last 12 months or so, and that’s a very pleasing endorsement.

“We’re really grateful for all the feedback and comments received as they’ve been very helpful for drafting our final strategy document,” Ms Hunt said.

The feedback is to be reviewed by the Inner City Steering Group and the draft strategy amended where necessary. It will then go before the council’s Strategy, Policy & Finance Committee meeting on 1 April where the final Inner City Revitalisation Strategy is expected to be adopted.

The council’s online survey of possible inner city revitalisation actions revealed support for most proposals.

Those projects receiving the strongest support were a Lakefront cycleway (88% in support), Arawa Street cycleway (85%), Fenton Street cycleway (78%), more street art (83%), campervan parking for Kuirau Park (79%), Lakefront campervan parking (74%), extending CCTV camera coverage (74%), purchasing buildings for parking (75%), a policy for earthquake-prone buildings (74%), replacing old street seating with new Jake Seats (69%), and reviewing City Focus (66%).

The only issues not to receive more than 50 per cent support were an upgrade of the Haupapa/Tutanekai streets intersection (49% support), replacing the Pukuatua Street public toilets (48% support), and changing vehicle give way provisions on Tutanekai Street (39% support).

Councillor Hunt pointed out that only a relatively small number of people surveyed opposed changing current give way traffic arrangements on Tutanekai Street but many more were unsure. She said it indicated more work and consultation was needed to improve awareness and understanding of the options, something the Inner City Revitalisation team would address.

The summarised survey results are below:

ENDS

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