2021 - 2031 Mahere Pae Tawhiti - Long Term Plan Consultation

Next week elected members will deliberate on feedback from the community on proposals for inclusion in Rotorua Lakes Council’s 2021-31 Long-Term Plan.

The Long-Term Plan (LTP) sets out what Council will undertake across the next 10 years and how that will be funded.

On Monday and Tuesday next week (17/18 May 2021), Council’s Strategy, Policy & Finance Committee will complete the deliberation process. This is the committee’s opportunity to consider feedback received and to make decisions around topics and issues that have been raised by the community against what has been accounted for to date in the consultation document.

Recommendations from the Committee will go to the Full Council on 28 June 2021 for its consideration and adoption of the finalised plan. The 2021/22 financial year, which starts 1 July 2021, will be year one of the LTP.

The plan is reviewed every three years to ensure it remains relevant and reflects the direction of Council and of the Rotorua district.

Community consultation was undertaken between 30 March and 30 April 2021 and was based on the consultation document which outlined Council’s key priorities and proposals for the Long-Term Plan.

Elected members, including the Mayor, Councillors, Lakes and Rural community board members and Te Tatau o Te Arawa board members, led engagement activity across the district, supported by Council staff. Seven community feedback sessions were held throughout the consultation period, providing the opportunity for people to give verbal feedback directly to elected members and participate in discussions around Council’s key priorities and proposals. Feedback could also be provided online, in writing, or over the phone.

Council used a variety of channels to advertise that feedback was being sought on the LTP. This included, the RLC website, social media channels, local radio stations, advertisements on the back of City Ride buses, on School Apps NZ, in community newsletters, in the Rotorua Airport magazine and in Council’s most recent quarterly magazine Tatau Tatau which is delivered to letter boxes in the city (all addresses that are registered with NZ Post) and is distributed to some of the city’s GP clinics, retailers, pharmacies, and community organisations. There were also information displays in the Rotorua Library, Rotorua Airport, Trade Central Mall, Rotorua Aquatic Centre and council staff attended community events to share information and encourage people to give feedback.

Kua whakaaetia te Mahere Pae Tawhiti
Long-Term Plan consultation document approved

At today’s full Council hui, elected members approved the 2021 – 2031 Long-Term Plan (LTP) consultation document.

Rotorua Mayor, Steve Chadwick, acknowledges the work that has gone into developing the plan and encourages the community to have their say during the consultation period.

“I’m very pleased to see this document approved today. It outlines a very robust plan for the District, which elected members, and council staff have worked extremely hard on over the past seven months.

“At a very critical time, the plan has been developed with the intention to address some of the most serious issues Rotorua is facing; a housing crisis, community safety, economic recovery, climate change, and infrastructure longevity.

“Council has set these priorities based on what you, our community, has told us is imperative to you. When consultation begins, that is the time for you to review the mahi we are proposing for these priority areas, and tell us if we’ve got it right.

“This is a very important opportunity to have your say and I strongly encourage you to do so,” says Mayor Chadwick.

The LTP sets out what Council is proposing to achieve over the next ten years and how that will be funded. The LTP has been developed based on Council’s key priorities, which reflect the issues that the community has previously told Council are important.

This includes the need for people to live in homes that match their needs and be part of a thriving community. The need for everyone to feel safe in our CBD and local neighbourhoods. The need for district-wide economic recovery and long-term growth, and for resilient infrastructure that is future proofed against the impacts of climate change.

There is a lot of hard mahi to be done to support these challenges and the LTP consultation document details the actions Council is proposing.

The consultation document will be available to the public from 30 March 2021 (on this page) and consultation will run until 4pm on 30 April 2021.

Between 30 March and 30 April, Council will be hosting seven feedback sessions for the community to learn about the LTP proposals and provide feedback. Details of the feedback sessions are as follows:

• 7 April: Rotorua Lakes Council Chamber, 6pm - 8pm
• 12 April: Rotoiti Sports Club, 6pm - 8pm
• 14 April: Mamaku Hall, 6.30pm – 8.30pm
• 20 April: Te Ao Marama, Ōhinemutu, 6pm – 8pm
• 22 April: Rotorua Lakes Council Chamber, 6pm – 8pm
• 27 April: Te Tākinga Marae, Mourea, 6pm – 8pm
• 28 April: Tangatarua Marae, Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, 6pm – 8pm

Any questions about providing feedback can be sent to letstalk@rotorualc.nz or call Council’s Customer Centre on 07 348 4199. All feedback needs to be with Council by 4pm on Friday 30 April 2021.

Today’s hui was livestreamed and you can watch the section relating to the approval of the 2021-2031 Long-Term Plan consultation document HERE.

Rotorua Lakes Council will be asking for feedback on the draft 2021-2031 Long-Term Plan (LTP) throughout April.

The LTP sets out what Council is proposing to achieve over the next ten years and how that will be funded. These proposals will be explained in a consultation document which will be available to the community from 30 March.

A large portion of the work outlined in the Long-Term Plan consultation document is guided by strategies and plans that Council has already adopted.

These strategies and plans reflect what the community has previously told Council is important to support a safe, thriving and prosperous Rotorua.

Ētahi o ngā rautaki e arahi nei i te whanaketanga o te Mahere Pae Tawhiti

Some of the strategies guiding the development of the Long-Term Plan include:

Mahere Tauhohe Huarere - Rotorua Climate Action Plan

Rotorua’s existing infrastructure does not have the strength and resilience to meet the major challenges of climate change and is particularly vulnerable to the anticipated effects of increased rainfall, drought and rising temperatures.

Council adopted the Rotorua Climate Action Plan in February 2021. Guided by the Zero Carbon Act, it has been developed in partnership with stakeholders and the wider community. The Climate Action Plan is the blueprint for combating climate change in the District. The goal is to position Rotorua in a low carbon economy and to establish ourselves as a resilient community that can adapt to the changes in climate.

The LTP consultation document will outline how climate change could impact Rotorua and what actions Council is proposing to mitigate these effects.

Rautaki Whanake Ōhanga - Draft Economic Development Strategy Framework

Immediately after the COVID-19 lock down, Rotorua experienced the third largest economic contraction in gross domestic product (GDP) in the country. Revenue within the tourism sector dropped by 40%, jobs disappeared and small businesses struggled to stay afloat.

Council adopted its Draft Economic Strategy (EDS) in December 2020. Developed in partnership with iwi, businesses and industry sector leaders, the draft EDS is a blueprint for economic recovery and longer-term growth in the district. This strategy is intended to support the District’s short-term needs for economic recovery and long-term economic development vision, which is critical to addressing the systemic challenges faced by the community.

The draft EDS is a work in progress, which will be finalised when detailed action plans are created for each of its priority areas. Council, business leaders and partners, are leading the development of these plans. These are expected to be finalised by the end of the year, with implementation initiated during the first three years of the Long-Term Plan.

The LTP consultation document will provide more information about the funding and delivery of these actions.

He Papakāinga, He Hapori Taurikura Te Poupou Rautaki - Rotorua Homes and Thriving Communities Strategic Framework

The vision of Homes and Thriving Communities is that homes in Rotorua are affordable, and that there are enough homes for everyone to be safe and warm. Homes are of different sizes, in different places, located in well-designed communities where people can readily access school, work, shops, services, transport and public spaces.

Council has a role to play in enabling and unlocking land so that homes can be built. However some may question, how far that role extends? The LTP consultation document will outline how Council may expand their scope in this area in order to operate across a range of development mechanisms.

Tēnā kōrero mai - Have your say

The outcome of the LTP consultation will affect everyone in Rotorua, so all views matter, and we want feedback to inform elected members’ decision making.

Subscribe to Council’s Long-Term Plan consultation page HERE to be kept up to date with the Long-Term Plan process and get alerts for when consultation opens on 30 March 2021.

This is where to find all information about the 2021-2031 LTP and consultation process, and where to provide feedback during April. Currently it provides information and FAQs about the LTP and this will be added to as the process progresses.

This is the time to work together to make Rotorua a place for everyone.
Koinei te wā kia mahitahi tātau mo Rotorua te kainga mo te katoa!

Rotorua Lakes Council will be asking for feedback on the draft 2021-2031 Long-Term Plan (LTP) in April.

The LTP sets out what Council is proposing to achieve over the next ten years and how that will be funded. These proposals will be explained in a consultation document which is available to the community now.

The LTP has been developed based on Council’s key priorities, and details the actions Council is proposing to take in these areas to confront some of Rotorua’s most pressing issues.

These priorities reflect what the community has previously told Council is important to support a safe, thriving and prosperous Rotorua.

One of these key priorities is He Papakāinga, He Hapori Taurikura - Housing and Thriving Communities. Work in this area will be driven by the He Papakāinga, He Hapori Taurikura Te Poupou Rautaki - Rotorua Homes and Thriving Communities Strategic Framework, which was adopted by Council last year.

The vision of Homes and Thriving Communities is that homes in Rotorua are affordable, and that there are enough homes for everyone to be safe and warm. Homes are of different sizes, in different places, located in well-designed communities where people can readily access school, work, shops, services, transport and welcoming shared public spaces.

During the LTP consultation period in April, within the ‘Housing and Thriving Communities’ conversation, Council will be asking the community what level of investment they would like to see put into the Rotorua Aquatic Centre to ensure it is a fit-for-purpose, shared public facility for all to enjoy.

Previously the community has told Council that it values the Aquatic Centre as a facility for locals to use and enjoy. Council reflected this feedback in the 2018-2028 Long-term Plan, setting aside $7.5 million.

Redevelopment began with fixing the slumping issues in the 50m outdoor pool. The pool re-opened earlier this month following an overhaul of the pool tank (liner) to address leaking, extensions to the pool sides to increase the pool depth, a new filtration system, new bulk head (provides for pool to become two 25m pools) and upgrades to the outdoor changing facilities are scheduled for later this year.

The planning and investigations completed over the past three years have shown that the Aquatic Centre needs significant refurbishment and maintenance to address the leaking and deteriorating roof and its structure, the aged ventilation system, the poor state of the changing rooms and accessibility facilities, the inadequate reception area and wind tunnelling issues. Investment is also required to increase pool space flexibility, including developing a dedicated learn to swim pool which will provide a facility that will meet the demands of the community for the next 25 years.

Rotorua is surrounded by lakes and rivers, therefore there should be facilities provided to ensure tamariki/children have the skills and confidence to be safe in the water. The Rotorua Aquatic Centre plays a vital role in this.

A decision is now required about further investment in the Aquatic Centre. All options require a level of substantial investment. The options range from doing the bare minimum, to repair and replace only the worst affected areas, through to investing in the Aquatic Centre to create a facility the community is proud to visit, to learn to swim in, to have fun in, and to enjoy being active in. Council will be asking for your feedback on these options in April.

Feedback about the Aquatic Centre during the LTP consultation period will determine the future of the facility.

Tēnā kōrero mai - Have your say

The outcome of the LTP consultation will affect everyone in Rotorua, so all views matter, and we want feedback to inform elected members’ decision making.

This site is where to find all information about the 2021-2031 LTP and consultation process, and where to provide feedback during April. Currently it provides information and FAQs about the LTP and this will be added to as the process progresses.

This is the time to work together to make Rotorua a place for everyone.
Koinei te wā kia mahitahi tātau mo Rotorua te kainga mo te katoa!

2021 – 2031 Mahere Pae Tawhiti - Long-Term Plan

Since September 2020, Elected Members have attended a series of twelve workshops and made decisions on what to include in the 2021 – 2031 Long-Term Plan, they have also considered rates affordability and what other measures of our Financial Strategy should be.

They have resolved that our kaupapa has not, and is not, changing – to unlock Rotorua’s potential as a great place to live, work, play and invest.

Our plan, which will be detailed in our consultation document, is to spend the next few years leading the work that needs to be undertaken to address our confronting issues; working towards economic recovery resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic and long-term economic development critical to addressing many of the challenges faced by our communities.

This LTP has been developed based on Council’s key priorities, and details the actions Council is proposing to take in these areas to confront some of Rotorua’s most pressing issues.

The key priorities are:

1. He Papakāinga, He Hapori Taurikura - Housing and Thriving Communities

Rotorua faces a shortage of houses; we have many barriers to land development and our houses do not meet the needs of our people.

To confront these challenges, we propose to build new homes, review covenants and design rules and create available sections. Additionally we propose to develop apartment buildings in the inner city and deliver on locality plans for the Eastside, Westside, Ngongotahā, and Inner City. Council will take a lead role in facilitating neighbourhood safety projects and will partner with iwi, developers and central Government to help enable and deliver infrastructure and community projects that support the development of thriving communities.

These actions will be driven by the He Papakāinga, He Hapori Taurikura Te Poupou Rautaki - Rotorua Homes and Thriving Communities Strategic Framework, which was adopted by Council last year.

During April, within the ‘Housing and Thriving Communities’ conversation, we will also be asking you what level of investment you would like to see put into the Rotorua Aquatic Centre and we will provide you with three options to consider.

Your feedback will help guide the mahi for housing and thriving communities.

2. Whanake Ōhanga - Economic Development

Immediately after the COVID-19 lock down, Rotorua experienced the third largest economic contraction in gross domestic product (GDP) in the country. Virtually overnight revenue within the tourism sector dropped by 40%, jobs disappeared and small businesses struggled to stay afloat.

This compounded our existing challenges like limited employment choices, multiple employment sectors paying the minimum wage, high unemployment rates, undeveloped land and a lack of appropriate infrastructure needed for commercial and industrial growth.

Our consultation document outlines a range of actions to help Rotorua address the short-term needs for economic recovery in a world disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the long-term economic development vision, which is critical to addressing the systemic challenges faced by our community.

These actions will support the Draft Economic Development Strategy that Council approved last year.

3. Whakahaumaru Hāpori - Community Safety

Council is concerned about an increase in anti-social and criminal behaviour, affecting residents' and visitors’ experiences in Rotorua.

There are a number of issues contributing to the increased concern about community safety currently:

• Anti-social behaviour - is negatively affecting our sense of safety and security in public spaces and our neighbourhoods.
• High crime statistics relative to other districts, with a particular impact on the more vulnerable members of the community.
• A culture of drinking, violence and an increased prevalence of methamphetamine in our community.
• Clusters of motels used as emergency and transitional housing, associated with an increase in anti-social behaviour and crime in the surrounding areas.
• Gang culture attracting our young people and the associated fighting, intimidation and drugs.
  
  

The LTP consultation document outlines a range of actions to help confront these challenges and make Rotorua a safe place for everyone. We will also be asking you how much you would like to see Council invest in community safety.

4. Hurihanga Āhuarangi - Climate Change

Our existing infrastructure does not have the strength and resilience to meet the major challenges of climate change for our future communities.

Our infrastructure is particularly vulnerable to the anticipated effects of climate change, such as increased rainfall, drought and rising temperature.

Our consultation document outlines a range of actions that Council is proposing to help our district combat climate change. These actions align with the Rotorua Climate Action Plan Council approved earlier this year.

5. Hangaroto - Infrastructure

Council leads and is responsible for the provision of key services that support the daily life of the people of Rotorua. Our infrastructure must be safe, reliable and in a stable condition to meet current and future demand, whilst meeting the expectations of our district.

To do this, we need to understand and plan for how infrastructure will need to change over time - to remain fit for purpose. Change is required to adjust to new technologies, environmental considerations (such as carbon neutrality), new regulatory standards or changing community expectations and emerging patterns of use.

Our 30-year Infrastructure Strategy outlines the investment programmes required to ensure we are meeting all our communities’ wellbeing obligations in a planned and affordable way. This investment will also help to stimulate our local economy as part of Council’s Rotorua Economic Recovery Plan: Build Back Better.

We have identified seven strategic district infrastructure challenges that need to be at the forefront of long-term infrastructure planning and decision-making. These have been outlined in the LTP consultation document.

We will also be seeking your feedback on the Government’s proposed Three Waters Reform, which signals potential major changes ahead to the way the three waters are managed and delivered across the country.

He aha ō whakaaro? What do you think?

Your chance to have a say on the 2021-2031 Long-Term Plan will be throughout April 2021.

Between 30 March and 30 April there will be an opportunity for both verbal and written feedback on each of these proposals. There will also be opportunities to speak with Elected Members and give verbal feedback during April. We’ll keep you informed about when these sessions will be.

Click 'Subscribe' at the top right of this page to make sure you're kept up to date with the Long-Term Plan process and get alerts for when formal consultation opens.

We look forward to working together, to make Rotorua a place for everyone.

Tatau tatau – we together.