Few days left to give council feedback

Rotorua residents have just a few days left to give feedback to Rotorua Lakes Council on two important issues which have been out for public consultation over the last month.

The first issue is a proposal to finalise inner city parking times and parking fees following a two-year rolling trial of various parking arrangements.

Changes proposed by the Inner City Focus Group's Block Champions include all existing 90 and 60 minute free parking along the length of Tutanekai Street becoming 60 minute free parking, along with shorter sections of Arawa, Haupapa, Pukuatua, Hinemoa and Eruera streets. In the remaining sections of the five cross streets motorists would be able to park for up to three hours at $1 an hour.

It is also being recommended that the Pukuatua St Carpark Building have no time limits, and parking be $1 per hour with a maximum of $4 per day for casual parkers and $2 per day for concession holders.

More information on the parking proposals and an online feedback form are available from the council website - rotorualakescouncil.nz. From next week council staff will start analysing public feedback on inner city parking and prepare a report for the council's Strategy, Policy and Finance Committee to consider at its November 4 meeting.

The other issue for which consultation closes at the end of the week covers voting arrangement being proposed for next year's local government election.

The council's Your Choice Working Party is recommending a reduction in the number of councillors from 12 to 10, the addition of a second community board to represent the rural community, and retention of the current 'at large' voting system rather than a return to voting by wards.

Information and submission forms on the Your Choice election proposals are available from the council's Customer Centre or online from the council website - rotorualakescouncil.nz.

Public feedback on both the inner city parking recommendations and the 2016 election proposals closes on Friday, October 2.