Petition against Lakefront development denied tabling at council meeting

An attempt to put forward a petition to stop the redevelopment of the Lakefront at today's full council meeting was denied because proper procedure was not followed.

Councillor Peter Bentley attempted to table the Rotorua District Residents and Ratepayers petition as an urgent matter at the start of the meeting but mayor Steve Chadwick said the correct procedure was not taken and the council needed to be notified five days prior to the meeting.

Speaking to Bentley after the meeting, he told the

Rotorua Daily Post

he had never heard of that procedure before but would resubmit the petition before the next meeting.

Councillor Peter Bentley attempted to table the petition today. Photo / File

Rotorua District Residents and Ratepayers secretary Reynold Macpherson said the fact the petition was not tabled at the meeting only meant more signatures could be collected.

"We are very pleased to get the extended time, it's an opportunity to get the petition back out to our members," Macpherson said.

He said more than 800 signatures had been collected and he expected more people to do so.

But Macpherson said he was not sure how many signatures needed to be collected to make a difference.

The group was opposing the investment of almost $40 million into the redevelopment of the city's Lakefront.

An artist's impression of what a redeveloped Lakefront may look like. Photo/ File

Rotorua Lakes Council said the redevelopment had been in the works for more than a decade and was an "important component" of a central city upgrade.

In its 2018-2028 Long-term Plan the council allocated $20m over eight years to the project and in late September, the Government announced it would contribute $19.9m to the Lakefront from the Provincial Growth Fund.

Other matters discussed at the full council meeting included the approval of a 20-year lease to the Menz Shed Rotorua on Pererika St Reserve and a 20-year lease extension for the Rotorua Lakes Water Sport Trust.