City Focus Decision another Rolls Royce Solution

5 November 2015

The decision to rebuild and rename the City Focus is a gross imposition on residents and ratepayers, according to Dr Reynold Macpherson, an endorsed mayoral candidate. He has backed former Mayor Grahame Hall’s trenchant criticism of the decision (RDP, 5 Nov, p. 3).

It hits ratepayers still suffering from a major hike in rates, he noted, with Council debt planned to blow out from $167m to $205m over the next five years. It would have been wiser, he said, to alter the gardens and remove part of the i-Site building to create a giant roundabout, as suggested by Cr. Searancke. Then, by refurbishing the Tutaneki and Hinemoa carvings, extending the Night Market, directing Grow Rotorua to boost CBD startups and SMEs, and appointing an events manager, the heart of the CBD could be revived with low-cost solutions.

Dr Macpherson also pointed out that the ‘debate’ yesterday was staged theatrics because Cr Hunt and an official had already consulted over 40 retailers when best to demolish the City Focus. The ‘block champions’ have not explained, he said, how clearer sight lines, removing the pillars, sails and the i-Site beloved by tourists, and then renaming the intersection, will actually improve their bottom lines. And imagine, he said, the health and safety hazards of blending vehicle, pedestrian and cycleway traffic, and the impact of demolitions on Christmas trade.

Worse, he said, the decision will cost ratepayers $1.2 million, plus or minus 15% because detailed costing have not been done, but it won’t stop there. The Inner City Revitalisation Portfolio led by Cr Karen Hunt has been promised the same amount again twice in coming years, and then $800K for each of the following seven years. In sum, the Portfolio has been given a $10 million slush fund for a series of unplanned vanity projects over the next 10 years.

Dr Macpherson concluded that we need to revitalise the City Focus with affordable solutions, scrap portfolios and get Council back to core services, retiring debt and stabilising not spending rates.

ENDS

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