Rotorua has many great assets, in fact a good proportion of our city is built between two of the biggest and best - the thermal attractions at Whakarewarewa/Te Puia and our mighty lake.
A long, straight line between the two - Fenton St - is dotted with accommodation providers, full of visitors here to marvel at our natural wonders, among other things. Now at the northern end of that line it looks like there could be a major addition to the accommodation sector with plans revealed for a large-scale development at Rotorua's Lakefront. Pukeroa Oruawhata Trust says it will likely include a five-star hotel and spa complex, and if all plans come to fruition it could create up to 400 jobs.
The trust's client manager, Peter Faulkner, says Rotorua has lost ground to Queenstown in the tourist market. "Now is the time to start making that ground back up."
Queenstown in the South Island is another popular tourist destination with amazing natural wonders. On the shores of Lake Wakatipu, it has made fantastic use of its waterfront. While Rotorua has a wonderful open area and children's playground at the Lakefront adjacent to Eat Streat and the central city, perhaps this new major development on the edge of that area is this city's chance to really make the most of its biggest asset.
In some ways, it seems our modern central city was developed away from the lake, perhaps drawn to the old transport hub where the mall is now. Eat Streat has done a lot in the past few years to renew interest in the lake end of town, driving a lot of local and tourist foot traffic.
