Latest news with #LauraSmith
Scoop
28-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Regional Ratepayers To Fund $3.58m Loan For Tarawera Sewerage Scheme
Wednesday, 28 May 2025, 8:05 pm Article: Laura Smith - Local Democracy Reporter Bay of Plenty regional ratepayers are set to fund a $3.58 million loan towards Rotorua's controversial Tarawera Sewerage Scheme. The decision comes as Rotorua Lakes Council prepares to deliberate today on how to split costs of the $32.3m scheme between general Rotorua ratepayers, Tarawera property owners and other funders. Tarawera households currently face a lump sum cost of $50,315 each to connect to the reticulation scheme, which replaces septic tanks. The cost would rise to $55,601 for those who do not agree to on-site work on their properties by June 1. Bay of Plenty regional ratepayers are set to fund a $3.58 million loan towards Rotorua's controversial Tarawera Sewerage Scheme. The decision comes as Rotorua Lakes Council prepares to deliberate today on how to split costs of the $32.3m scheme between general Rotorua ratepayers, Tarawera property owners and other funders. Tarawera households currently face a lump sum cost of $50,315 each to connect to the reticulation scheme, which replaces septic tanks. The cost would rise to $55,601 for those who do not agree to on-site work on their properties by June 1. A report in the meeting's agenda said the loan would not necessarily reduce Lake Tarawera residents' lump sum contribution, but could 'give RLC an opportunity to reduce its interest costs and the targeted rate payable'. Making the loan interest-free would result in BOPRC forgoing about $150,000 per annum, or about $1.30 per ratepayer. Regional councillor Kevin Winters said the decision showed the council was helping Tarawera residents, while also signalling it wanted them to sign off work on their properties so stage two of the scheme could be implemented 'en masse'. He acknowledged it was not a grant as had been requested by RLC. BOPRC's chief executive could potentially further negotiate conditions, such as capping Tarawera households' costs. Councillor Jane Nees supported this cap being the $36,600 some Tarawera residents sought. Councillor Lyall Thurston said BOPRC wanted to see 'some finality to this ongoing saga at Tarawera', and hoped the decision would be well received by RLC. He said he understood some colleagues held concerns and apprehensions. Councillor Ken Shirley said spreading the cost among regional ratepayers was a 'slippery slope' in what other councils might expect in future, but he believed schemes should be considered on their own merits. The regional council also voted to have an independent review of the scheme funding and project management completed by the councils prior to loan drawdown. It came after Tarawera resident Tracey McLeod raised potential issues with the stated costs and funding of this and other sewerage schemes. She presented at a prior regional council meeting and emailed both councils the results of her investigation on Friday. Thurston said in Monday's meeting that McLeod had gone to 'great lengths to emphasise that costs have been overstated in the scheme' and there were calls for an inquiry and audit. He believed there could be pushback from both councils on that, but believed some of the 'figures bandied around need to be analysed very closely'. 'I'm starting to get totally confused with the size and the quantum of the figures that members of the community say are grossly inflated, overstated and quite frankly, I want to know what the real story is.' He said the figures in question had been circulating in the public domain for a long time and needed to be challenged, acknowledged and this issue 'put to rest once and for all'. BOPRC chairman Doug Leeder agreed some 'forensic analysis' was needed to either validate or reject what was claimed. RLC infrastructure and assets group manager Stavros Michael told Local Democracy Reporting the council was aware BOPRC was working on a response to McLeod's claims about the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes programmes deed funding, which BOPRC administered. He said the Tarawera Sewerage Scheme is not part of those programmes and had its own funding plan. RLC would be considering the scheme's costs and funding as part of the 2025/26 Annual Plan. RLC councillors will meet today to begin Annual Plan deliberations. Funding options for Tarawera the council consulted the community about included retaining the status quo, or reducing Tarawera households' contribution by $1m or $4m and splitting it among general Rotorua ratepayers instead. Of 344 public submissions on the matter, 232 wanted the $4m taken off Tarawera households. © Scoop Media
Scoop
26-05-2025
- Scoop
Controversial Plan To Move Prisoner Reintegration Facility Takes Next Step
Article – Laura Smith – Local Democracy Reporter It comes as the council investigates the facility's activities at its current site. The public will have a say on a controversial plan to move a prisoner reintegration facility to a rural Rotorua valley. Rotorua Lakes Council has publicly notified a resource consent application for Pūwhakamua to operate in Waikite. A notice in today's Rotorua Daily Post said submissions would close at 5pm on June 25. It comes as the council investigates the existing Pūwhakamua facility, based near Rotorua Airport, after issuing, then cancelling, a notice ordering it to cease operations because of consent matters. Pūwhakamua is a tikanga Māori live-in reintegration service supporting men on parole to return and readapt into the community. It was the brainchild of reformed drug lord Billy Macfarlane, who works as general manager, and is run by Tikanga Aroro Charitable Trust, with a contract from the Department of Corrections. Pūwhakamua has been operating on the leased site since 2018 and Corrections has funded it at least $4.6 million since November 2022. The trust aimed to develop a new site on nearby Māori land behind Rotokawa Baths, but landowners successfully sought an injunction through the Māori Land Court, meaning it had to find another new home. The trust applied for resource consent in October to relocate to Waikite, about 40km south of Rotorua. It had requested limited notification be carried out for immediate neighbours and that submissions be invited through a formal process. Community members told councillors last year they opposed the facility relocation, fearing the rural setting increased safety and security risks. They called for full public notification, allowing wider submissions. The Rotorua Rural Community Board was advised in a meeting on Tuesday the application would be publicly notified. The trust's application said the rural environment meant a 'focus on cultural values can be fostered away from the distractions of an urban environment'. 'Full support and care are provided through the programme via on-site resident staff and external agencies. Residents commit to pursuing lasting change through support with daily life tasks, upskilling programmes, vocational education, personal development and employment.' The trust hit consent issues at its current site this year. On March 5, the council sent an abatement notice ordering the 'unconsented' facility to cease operations and take steps to gain consent. Rehabilitation centres could be considered community housing under the District Plan, but must only have up to eight residents, whose movements could not be legally restricted – including by parole conditions. Pūwhakamua was hosting 14 parolees in February when the council inspected after neighbours raised concerns. The abatement notice was cancelled on March 24. Council destination development group manager Jean-Paul Gaston told Local Democracy Reporting an investigation into activities on the site was ongoing. He declined to comment further, saying the council did not intend to conduct the investigation through the media. Trust chairman Doug Macredie said the abatement notice was a 'non-event based on incorrect information' and was quickly cancelled. 'That said, we've taken the opportunity to review our land use in accordance with tikanga, and will continue in humility and thankfulness.' Macredie said the Waikite Valley consent notification was for the council to decide. 'We are progressing with the full support of our network and observing improved accuracy of information resulting in greater public support.' He previously said no one who could not be safely managed in the community could live at Pūwhakamua and everyone referred was assessed while still in custody. Active gang members were not considered, community safety was the 'No 1 priority' and Pūwhakamua staff were on-site at all times. A Corrections spokesperson said finding safe accommodation for people lawfully required to be released from prison was one of its 'most significant challenges'. 'Without supported accommodation, they could be homeless and living on the streets or in cars. This would present an unacceptable safety risk to communities.' According to Corrections statements, the number of men living on site at Pūwhakamua had fluctuated from eight when the notice was cancelled to nine about two weeks ago and six as of Wednesday. Eight other participants in the programme lived off-site. Corrections' communities, partnerships and pathways deputy chief executive Sean Mason told Local Democracy Reporting last month that it met with trust and council after the abatement notice. He understood the trust sought independent advice to ensure Pūwhakamua was compliant and was keeping Corrections informed. The department had developed a contingency plan in place to safely house the residents if they had needed to leave Pūwhakamua. Mason said reintegration services were important in reducing the risk of reoffending. A communication from the council to the trust, sent to Local Democracy Reporting by Corrections, said the abatement notice was cancelled to allow time for an independent planning consultant to consider an assessment undertaken on behalf of the trust.
NZ Herald
25-05-2025
- NZ Herald
Controversial plan to move prisoner reintegration facility takes next step
It was the brainchild of reformed drug lord Billy Macfarlane, who works as general manager, and is run by Tikanga Aroro Charitable Trust, with a contract from the Department of Corrections. Pūwhakamua has been operating on the leased site since 2018 and Corrections has funded it at least $4.6 million since November 2022. The trust aimed to develop a new site on nearby Māori land behind Rotokawa Baths, but landowners successfully sought an injunction through the Māori Land Court, meaning it had to find another new home. The trust applied for resource consent in October to relocate to Waikite, about 40km south of Rotorua. It had requested limited notification be carried out for immediate neighbours and that submissions be invited through a formal process. Community members told councillors last year they opposed the facility relocation, fearing the rural setting increased safety and security risks. They called for full public notification, allowing wider submissions. About 80 people attended a Rotorua Lakes Council meeting in November, most of them for a petition opposing a resource consent application. Photo / Laura Smith The Rotorua Rural Community Board was advised in a meeting on Tuesday the application would be publicly notified. The trust's application said the rural environment meant a 'focus on cultural values can be fostered away from the distractions of an urban environment'. 'Full support and care are provided through the programme via on-site resident staff and external agencies. Residents commit to pursuing lasting change through support with daily life tasks, upskilling programmes, vocational education, personal development and employment.' The trust hit consent issues at its current site this year. On March 5, the council sent an abatement notice ordering the 'unconsented' facility to cease operations and take steps to gain consent. Rehabilitation centres could be considered community housing under the District Plan, but must only have up to eight residents, whose movements could not be legally restricted – including by parole conditions. Pūwhakamua was hosting 14 parolees in February when the council inspected after neighbours raised concerns. The abatement notice was cancelled on March 24. Council destination development group manager Jean-Paul Gaston told Local Democracy Reporting an investigation into activities on the site was ongoing. He declined to comment further, saying the council did not intend to conduct the investigation through the media. Billy Macfarlane, founder of Rotorua-based organisation Pūwhakamua. Photo / Aleyna Martinez Trust chairman Doug Macredie said the abatement notice was a 'non-event based on incorrect information' and was quickly cancelled. 'That said, we've taken the opportunity to review our land use in accordance with tikanga, and will continue in humility and thankfulness.' Macredie said the Waikite Valley consent notification was for the council to decide. 'We are progressing with the full support of our network and observing improved accuracy of information resulting in greater public support.' He previously said no one who could not be safely managed in the community could live at Pūwhakamua and everyone referred was assessed while still in custody. Active gang members were not considered, community safety was the 'No 1 priority' and Pūwhakamua staff were on-site at all times. A Corrections spokesperson said finding safe accommodation for people lawfully required to be released from prison was one of its 'most significant challenges'. 'Without supported accommodation, they could be homeless and living on the streets or in cars. This would present an unacceptable safety risk to communities.' According to Corrections statements, the number of men living on site at Pūwhakamua had fluctuated from eight when the notice was cancelled to nine about two weeks ago and six as of Wednesday. Eight other participants in the programme lived off-site. Corrections' communities, partnerships and pathways deputy chief executive Sean Mason told Local Democracy Reporting last month that it met with trust and council after the abatement notice. He understood the trust sought independent advice to ensure Pūwhakamua was compliant and was keeping Corrections informed. The department had developed a contingency plan in place to safely house the residents if they had needed to leave Pūwhakamua. Mason said reintegration services were important in reducing the risk of reoffending. A communication from the council to the trust, sent to Local Democracy Reporting by Corrections, said the abatement notice was cancelled to allow time for an independent planning consultant to consider an assessment undertaken on behalf of the trust. Laura Smith is a Local Democracy Reporting journalist based at the Rotorua Daily Post. She previously reported general news for the Otago Daily Times and Southland Express, and has been a journalist since 2019. – LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Scoop
24-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
How Rotorua's Air Pollution Transformation Defied Expectations
Article – Laura Smith – Local Democracy Reporter Once the worst winter air, the city has today shed its label of 'polluted'. At its worst, Rotorua had the worst winter air pollution in the country. Now, in a feat some did not think possible, as of today its airshed has officially lost that polluted status. It is a 'significant day', showing how far things have come in the 20 years the airshed has been in place. Estimated early deaths caused by air pollution halved in a decade, as millions of dollars were loaned to replace thousands of old, smoky fireplaces with cleaner heating. The city's continued high reliance on wood burners, however, may create a challenge if air quality standards tighten as expected. The Rotorua airshed was first gazetted in 2005 to enable monitoring and introduce rules to help improve air quality amid pollution concerns. The Bay of Plenty Regional Council is required to monitor air quality and manage pollution to national standards. These include for PM10 – small particulate matter, such as in smoke, which can be inhaled. If the airshed of a geographical area exceeds the national standard limit for PM10 more than once a year in a five-year period, it is labelled polluted. As of today, Rotorua's air quality has improved enough to lose that designation. Regional councillor Kevin Winters was mayor when the Rotorua Lakes Council adopted the Rotorua Air Quality Control Bylaw in 2010. It introduced rules to phase out the use of old and inefficient solid-fuel burners in homes and ban open fires indoors. Winters said the bylaw decision was not unanimous, and some said Rotorua could never lose that polluted label. 'It was very controversial.' A drive around areas such as Western Heights, Pukehangi and Fordlands convinced Winters to support it. 'It was like walking into a room of smokers. It was choking.' He viewed the past 15 years of work as a good example of collaboration between councils. He called Saturday's milestone a 'significant day'. Over the years, various measures were introduced to combat winter air-quality issues. Loans and grants were given for cleaner heating, an education campaign was launched, and compliance efforts were strengthened. About 400 grants worth a total of $735,000 were approved for insulation and to replace heating and remove solid burners since 2014. Grants are still available under the criteria. Between 2010 and 2021, about $11 million was lent to help residents buy cleaner heating options and insulation, funded by general and targeted rates. The latter ended a few years ago. A regional council spokesperson said the airshed introduction enabled it to start gathering 'real data' to understand the air pollution in Rotorua. 'It was the monitoring that followed that confirmed Rotorua had a winter-time air quality issue'. The Rotorua Air Quality Action Plan was introduced in 2008, a year that recorded 37 exceedances. The bylaws followed in 2010, then in 2020, Plan Change 13 (Air Quality) banned using all non-complying solid burners. In recent years, it has used an $8270 infrared camera to detect properties using illegal burners. Going forward, however, the change in Rotorua's pollution status could be up in the air, with new standards forecast. The spokesperson said research increasingly highlighted the ongoing negative health impacts associated with poor air quality. 'New rules focusing on even smaller particles [PM2.5] are also on the horizon, which will shift the goal posts further out.' This could prove a challenge for Rotorua, which still had high levels of wood burning for heating. Wood smoke particles are about 90% PM2.5. In a report, senior planner Elsa Weir said intervention would be needed to meet potential new targets for both PM10 and PM2.5. The council was waiting on government direction as to when the standards would be updated. It expected this to be after resource management system changes and not within the current Government's term. The regional council's other Rotorua councillor, Lyall Thurston, said while the airshed milestone marked 'significant progress', there was still work to do. He said collective change made an impact 'for the betterment of all Rotorua residents and visitors'. Thurston acknowledged other Rotorua Air Quality Working Group members, including Rotorua Lakes Council, Kāinga Ora and medical officers of health. Toi Te Ora Public Health Medical Officer of Health Dr Gregory Evans in 2023 told district councillors that air pollution affected people of all ages, but some were more vulnerable. Short-term examples included exacerbating asthma. Longer term, accumulated exposure could cause cardiovascular disease, and some of the pollutants were known carcinogens. A study released in 2022 found that air pollution generated by humans in 2016 resulted in 3300 premature adult deaths in New Zealand. He said estimates based on that study's health effects model found there were 40 early adult deaths in the Rotorua airshed in 2009 as a result of domestic fire-produced air pollution. The estimate for 2022 was 19. The number of years of lives lost reduced from 596 to 246, while restricted activity days were down from 53,000 to 20,000. The annual social cost of domestic fires had decreased from an estimated $190.9 million to $78.7m.
Scoop
24-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
How Rotorua's Air Pollution Transformation Defied Expectations
Article – Laura Smith – Local Democracy Reporter Once the worst winter air, the city has today shed its label of 'polluted'. At its worst, Rotorua had the worst winter air pollution in the country. Now, in a feat some did not think possible, as of today its airshed has officially lost that polluted status. It is a 'significant day', showing how far things have come in the 20 years the airshed has been in place. Estimated early deaths caused by air pollution halved in a decade, as millions of dollars were loaned to replace thousands of old, smoky fireplaces with cleaner heating. The city's continued high reliance on wood burners, however, may create a challenge if air quality standards tighten as expected. The Rotorua airshed was first gazetted in 2005 to enable monitoring and introduce rules to help improve air quality amid pollution concerns. The Bay of Plenty Regional Council is required to monitor air quality and manage pollution to national standards. These include for PM10 – small particulate matter, such as in smoke, which can be inhaled. If the airshed of a geographical area exceeds the national standard limit for PM10 more than once a year in a five-year period, it is labelled polluted. As of today, Rotorua's air quality has improved enough to lose that designation. Regional councillor Kevin Winters was mayor when the Rotorua Lakes Council adopted the Rotorua Air Quality Control Bylaw in 2010. It introduced rules to phase out the use of old and inefficient solid-fuel burners in homes and ban open fires indoors. Winters said the bylaw decision was not unanimous, and some said Rotorua could never lose that polluted label. 'It was very controversial.' A drive around areas such as Western Heights, Pukehangi and Fordlands convinced Winters to support it. 'It was like walking into a room of smokers. It was choking.' He viewed the past 15 years of work as a good example of collaboration between councils. He called Saturday's milestone a 'significant day'. Over the years, various measures were introduced to combat winter air-quality issues. Loans and grants were given for cleaner heating, an education campaign was launched, and compliance efforts were strengthened. About 400 grants worth a total of $735,000 were approved for insulation and to replace heating and remove solid burners since 2014. Grants are still available under the criteria. Between 2010 and 2021, about $11 million was lent to help residents buy cleaner heating options and insulation, funded by general and targeted rates. The latter ended a few years ago. A regional council spokesperson said the airshed introduction enabled it to start gathering 'real data' to understand the air pollution in Rotorua. 'It was the monitoring that followed that confirmed Rotorua had a winter-time air quality issue'. The Rotorua Air Quality Action Plan was introduced in 2008, a year that recorded 37 exceedances. The bylaws followed in 2010, then in 2020, Plan Change 13 (Air Quality) banned using all non-complying solid burners. In recent years, it has used an $8270 infrared camera to detect properties using illegal burners. Going forward, however, the change in Rotorua's pollution status could be up in the air, with new standards forecast. The spokesperson said research increasingly highlighted the ongoing negative health impacts associated with poor air quality. 'New rules focusing on even smaller particles [PM2.5] are also on the horizon, which will shift the goal posts further out.' This could prove a challenge for Rotorua, which still had high levels of wood burning for heating. Wood smoke particles are about 90% PM2.5. In a report, senior planner Elsa Weir said intervention would be needed to meet potential new targets for both PM10 and PM2.5. The council was waiting on government direction as to when the standards would be updated. It expected this to be after resource management system changes and not within the current Government's term. The regional council's other Rotorua councillor, Lyall Thurston, said while the airshed milestone marked 'significant progress', there was still work to do. He said collective change made an impact 'for the betterment of all Rotorua residents and visitors'. Thurston acknowledged other Rotorua Air Quality Working Group members, including Rotorua Lakes Council, Kāinga Ora and medical officers of health. Toi Te Ora Public Health Medical Officer of Health Dr Gregory Evans in 2023 told district councillors that air pollution affected people of all ages, but some were more vulnerable. Short-term examples included exacerbating asthma. Longer term, accumulated exposure could cause cardiovascular disease, and some of the pollutants were known carcinogens. A study released in 2022 found that air pollution generated by humans in 2016 resulted in 3300 premature adult deaths in New Zealand. He said estimates based on that study's health effects model found there were 40 early adult deaths in the Rotorua airshed in 2009 as a result of domestic fire-produced air pollution. The estimate for 2022 was 19. The number of years of lives lost reduced from 596 to 246, while restricted activity days were down from 53,000 to 20,000. The annual social cost of domestic fires had decreased from an estimated $190.9 million to $78.7m.
