Editorial: Hotel call a tough one to make

NOT HAPPY: Koutu resident Natalie Richards with her son, Steven, objecting against a proposed hotel to be built in her street. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER

There are few things more frustrating than moaners who aren't prepared to do anything about what's annoying them.

So hats off to Natalie Richards who is leading a Koutu community group that is against plans to build a hotel in their neck of the woods.

She has brought together residents to voice their concerns to the Rotorua Lakes Council.

A quick recap.

The plush multi-million-dollar, four-star hotel is being proposed for Bennetts Rd and will include 100 rooms, swimming pool, tennis court and restaurant. The real beauty is it is likely to create about 30 jobs.

Sounds fabulous, right?

But there's a fly in the ointment. The empty block of land earmarked for the development is zoned residential. This is where Ms Richards and her troop have a problem.

They say they welcome the development in Rotorua, but not in a residential area.

Of course no one in their right mind would want to turn away progress - and especially the creation of 30 jobs.

The ball is now in the court of the Rotorua Lakes Council.

It has 123 submissions opposing the development and just one in support.

This is a council that says it wants to take the city forward, attract new business and economic growth. It's also a council that says it wants to listen to the people.

Tricky isn't it?

But if it allows this development to go through, there's a pretty serious precedent being set.

Before we criticise Ms Richards and her group for supposedly holding back development in Rotorua, take a look out your window and ask yourself how you'd feel if a 100-room hotel popped up next door. Surely we can have our cake and eat it too.

Such a hotel would be fabulous in Rotorua, somewhere in the central city thanks.