The Place Of Meetings

At a monthly breakfast meeting this morning  I was asked  about how many meetings councillors attend and where our responsibilities lie.

First and foremost, there are regular committee meetings on a six-weekly rotation that all councillors are expected to attend and these are listed on the RDC website.

Next, there are many other meetings, powhiri , openings, visiting delegations and other assorted social events that support and acknowledge the very different aspects that make up our community.  These are available for all councillors to attend.

Is it possible to attend all of these?  What value comes from these meetings and is it quantifiable? Is it about short term goals or long term relationships? 

The decision to attend these meetings is one each individual councillor makes dependent on any number of factors.  All councillors have a life outside of council and it is not a full time position.  Some weeks, the demands on our time can make it feel like one.

The ebb and flow of meetings means that there is usually time for other commitments and for some, this is in private business.  It is very difficult to have the flexibility required to attend council meetings if you are not your own boss.

A significant amount of extra time is spent in preparation for meetings and many councillors spend time researching various areas of interest.  The better prepared we are for meetings, the more interesting the debate. 

I believe that our community wants and deserves to see its councillors out and about in the community - be it at a formal event or community gathering.  They need to feel that they can approach us at any time.

Since being elected to the Council in 2007 I have made it a priority to attend as many meetings as I am able. If you want to see the how many meetings I have been to this year click this link.

Maybe I’ll see you at the next one….

Tourism Board Gets A Shake Up

Tourism has always been big business for Rotorua and since 1992 the Tourism Advisory Board has been in place to help promote the business of tourism.  Recently this group of elected representatives from within the tourism industry and including three council representatives has recognised that it is time to update the boards structure.  Tourism is a fast changing industry and the demands and challenges of this market-place require a new way of  thinking.

A full independent review of the Destination  Rotorua Tourism Board has been completed  with presentations made to RDC Councillors, current Tourism Board members and others from within the industry. Feedback is now being sought in order to make a recommendation to council .

If you have an opinion on this issue , now is the time to have your say on the direction the board needs to take.  Please take the time to read the report get an idea of what others are doing around the country and help formulate a uniquely Rotorua model.

To make a submission on any of the recommendations please click here or visit the Have Your Say section of the Homepage of the RDC website www.rdc.govt.nz where you can complete an online submission form. 

Mobile Traders: Where And When?

Many of us have stopped at road-side stalls to buy items on offer,  especially seasonal produce in bulk supply. Think flowers, avocados and asparagus. Often these are spur of the moment decisions as opposed to a planned shopping trip.  An aspect of them being in the right place at the right time.

Itinerant traders or hawkers are a part of many communities, most often selling perishable goods out of a truck or similar vehicle.  These range from fruit and vegetables to flowers and fresh fish. In Rotorua the Council has allocated specific sites and an annual fee is payable for a license to operate. While the numbers are small, the Council has stipulations based on a number of issues about safety, speed of traffic and parking for example.

This can become a problem when a local rate-paying business notices that  a nearby mobile shop is in direct competition with them and is in effect able to undercut them due to fewer overheads.

This issue raises many questions for our community around how we define a mobile trader.  Is someone parking Monday to Friday 9-5 am itinerant, or are they taking unfair advantage of a policy that gives them access to a market without paying the usual business expenses of rent, wages and rates?

It is clear to me that margins are tight in retail and businesses are under constant pressure to make ends meet. I believe it is important that our policies support and protect our business ratepayers.

A review of this policy will be underway soon and I welcome your feedback on this issue.  

No Bins In Sight, More Of The Same Planned

The final debate was held today to determine what, if any changes are to be made towards reducing the amount of our waste that goes to landfill.

Yes you guessed it.  A vote of 7 to 5 has given us more of the same.

Sadly, the goal of decreasing the volume of domestic waste sent to landfill was over-shadowed by issues that other communities have managed to get their heads around. RDC will not be offering kerbside recycling to our community.

The in-town facility will be enlarged and a satellite station will be provided at Ngongotaha. Good news for Ngongotaha and Kaharoa residents. Not such good news for those that can’t or won’t go to either of these places.

While the  planned improvements should make my visits there more pleasant, I doubt it will encourage anyone who doesn’t already recycle to start now.

 I sincerely thank all of you for your submissions on this issue and I don’t for a minute believe this is the last time we will debate this in our community.

 

 

 

Community Restoration

Last night at Green Drinks a small crowd was updated on  the grass roots community gardens project led by Denise La Grouw.  Now Denise is quick to point out that she is just part of a team, however success stories like this always have someone with vision and passion driving them. After a number of years this group of dedicated volunteers has established the Hannah’s Bay Community Restoration Trust.  Their vision: building communities that work together holistically.

Already  through word of mouth a large number of schools have taken part, learning how to plant seeds, build gardens and work collectively. All of the gardens are made from recycled objects. From old tires to broken wooden pallets, discarded objects find a second and third use. Both local and regional councils have been helpful, as have the Periodic Detention crews assisting in the heavier work required.

The establishment of the trust has enabled the group to seek funding as the demand for community involvement in everyone's own neighborhood is increasing.  If you have not seen what is happening down there, take a walk around the Hannah's Bay Reserve and if you are interested in assisting or making a donation to the trust see contact details below.

Denise La Grouw

Coordinator
Hannah’s Bay Community Restoration Trust (charitable status)

34 Willow Avenue

Hannah's Bay

Rotorua

Ph (07) 345-5592

denisel@clear.net.nz

Bank account details:  Kiwibank 389010-034530-00

Quotes from Denise … what is important is that we develop caring communities – you only love what you know and you only protect what you love.  Kei te pai … all you can do is keep moving forward with a passion for engaging whole communities in feeling a sense of guardianship for the planet that we share – our home.

How Busy Are Our Lakes?

As a local resident  it is hard to miss the fact that our lakes are a huge drawcard for all sorts of people doing any number of sports on and around the water. These range from organised events with a registration fee, to club and social groups taking  advantage of an ideal environment located close to the city.

Understandably this is causing some unexpected issues for local residents, participants and RDC.  Anecdotal evidence says that some lakes are having huge issues with rubbish, boat trailers and lake closures to name a few.

Locals raised these issues with the Rotorua Lakes Community Board, Environment Bay of Plenty and Rotorua District Council late last year and a report was commissioned to look at these and other related issues.

The draft report has now been released.  Among other things, the report acknowledges that each lake has its own character and therefore requires a specific response unique to that lake.  The lakes community will be invited  to share their thoughts on this issue later this year.

I look forward to hearing your views when responses are invited.

Large Tree Required To Print Annual Plan Submissions

I’ve spent time this weekend reading the submissions we’ve received to the annual plan and I’m delighted to see how many there are, how willing our community is to have their say.

There were 3,754 submissions and 3,416 were about the Council’s plan for recycling in our community and 124 were in response to the draft Air Quality Bylaw.

As far recycling is concerned, the vast majority (over 85%) of submissions have favoured the Council’s preferred option of enlarging the current in town recycling centre and adding an additional site at Ngongotaha.

 Some submissions raised questions about the accuracy, presentation and a perceived bias of the provided information, favouring the status quo.  Even so, we have received a very clear message of community preference for recycling centres over kerbside collection, even though kerbside collection is provided by almost every other Council in the country.

My concern about the plan to simply enlarge our recycling centre and add one more, is that this will not necessarily encourage people to start recycling if they do not already do so.  A larger in-town centre will obviously be easier to use, but will more people be encouraged to use it?

The Council has devoted the coming week to hear and consider all submissions.  The issue will be formally debated in June and a decision will be made at that time.  If the Council decision goes with the weight of submissions, I sincerely hope that this is only the beginning of a very intensive program encouraging more of our community to actively recycle and reduce the amount of waste they send to landfill.