Community meeting on Youth Spaces Project for Koutu area
ROTORUA 23.11.10: Rotorua District Council (RDC) is holding a community meeting in Koutu to discuss a proposed youth park in the area as
part of the council’s new Youth Spaces Project.
The meeting on will take place on Thursday 2 December from 6pm to 8pm at Waikite Rugby Football Club on Bellvue Rd.
The suggested site for the Koutu development is Karenga Park and will include a netball court, basketball court,
skateboarding and BMX features, seating, artwork, and maintenance of the existing field and playground.
RDC youth projects officer Jill Campbell says the Koutu project is expected to get underway in 2012 and 2013, and she is
encouraging local residents and the wider community to get involved.
“This is an excellent youth development project which has been initiated by young people for young people, and local
involvement is important for the safety, community ownership and operation of the space.
“The council needs feedback on this exciting project and wants to hear any comments, ideas or concerns people may have
about the expansion of this youth site.
“To meet the needs of neighbouring properties Rotorua District Council is proactively addressing a wide range of
potential issues such as loitering, anti-social behaviour, drug and alcohol use, bullying, gangs, noise, rubbish,
graffiti tagging, toilets, and lighting spill.
“We want to deal with these matters up front so we can minimise any problems in the future.”
In its current Ten Year Plan the Rotorua District Council allocated $600,000 to develop skate parks and youth friendly
spaces in Western Heights, Fordlands, Koutu and in another community yet to be confirmed. The funding allocation
resulted from submissions by young people from these communities during the council’s hearings when the Ten Year Plan
was in its draft stages.
Further community meetings will be held later to discuss new youth spaces at Western Heights’ Park Road Reserve and
Fordlands’ Wrigley Road Reserve.
Next week’s Youth Spaces Project meeting for Koutu is at 6pm on Thursday 2 December at Waikite Rugby Football Club on
Bellvue Rd.
ENDS