NEWS RELEASE

Wednesday 5 June 2013

Efficiency gains from restructuring Rotorua CBD operations

ROTORUA 05.06.13: Rotorua District Council (RDC) is changing the way many of its services are provided in the CBD and establishing a new integrated Inner City Enterprises (ICE) department to deliver the services more efficiently.

The changes are aimed at helping lift the economic performance of the CBD, and in particular stimulating activity in the heart of the city and increasing foot traffic.

The new ICE department means the council is disestablishing nine existing positions and replacing them with three new roles. Two of the six jobs to go are dependent on decisions the mayor and councillors will be making this month on CBD proposals in the 2013/14 draft annual plan.

The three new positions currently being advertised for the Inner City Enterprises unit are an overall manager, revitalisation projects manager and operations manager.

Potentially affected staff have been consulted on the proposals over recent weeks and will be able to apply for the new positions.

RDC Economic & Regulatory Services Group Manager Mark Rawson said the new Inner City Enterprises entity will offer a more cohesive approach, and a more effective and proactive response to delivery of inner city services.

“This is about responding to a changing CBD environment, listening to our business community and improving services for our residents and visitors.

“We’re focussed on delivering a six point plan for the CBD over the coming year, aligning with our CBD Revitalisation Strategy and subject to proposals currently under consideration by the council.

“The key points include implementation of time-based on-street free parking, relocating some services into the city centre, automation of the Pukuatua Street parking building and improvement of inner city safety and security services. The plan also includes a number of capital projects from the CBD Revitalisation Strategy such as Eat Streat development and Tutanekai Street intersection upgrades, and establishing the new integrated Inner City Enterprises department for coordinating and delivering CBD services.”

Mr Rawson said the changes will mean a more cooperative approach and improved inter-relationships with CBD economic revitalisation programmes, parking wardens, City Safe Guardians, events staff, the Visitor Centre and i-SITE team, RDC Customer Centre activities, and Castlecorp’s enhanced role in CBD maintenance and cleaning.

“As we enter a new phase of delivering CBD related services to our community, integrating inner city operations will clearly bring increased efficiencies. But it also means we’ll be losing a number of staff who have given us exceptional service over many years. The changes are about progress and are not a reflection of the calibre of these people. Those leaving us have every reason to be extremely proud of the roles they have played in maintaining services in the CBD to such high levels, and we thank them for the part they have played in making Rotorua a better place to live, work and invest.“

Mr Rawson said the final make-up of the Inner City Enterprises unit remained subject to a number of annual plan decisions currently being determined by the council, but he expected the new department to be up and running around August this year.

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