Three buildings are set for demolition at the lakefront: the Soundshell, the Lakeside Cafe, and the Scouts building. Photo / Stephen Parker
Three buildings are set for demolition at the lakefront: the Soundshell, the Lakeside Cafe, and the Scouts building. Photo / Stephen Parker
Turning Rotorua's Lakefront into a world-class space is expected to come with a $58 million price tag.
Plans for the future of the Lakefront have been revealed in the Rotorua Lakes Council's Long Term Plan (LTP), which is out for consultation.
They include an interactive sculpture park that "tells the cultural stories of Te Arawa", visitor and coach parking, upgraded public toilets, a waka launching space and viewing platform, and jetty changes.
The overall Lakefront project is expected to cost about $58m, $21m of which will come from the council.
The rest will be sought from partnerships and private investors.
Rotorua's lakefront is set for a multi-million dollar upgrade. Photo / Stephen Parker
"Our idea is to create a destination to match the quality aspirations of the surrounding private investments (e.g. Pukeroa Oruawhata's world spa and five-star hotel development) and to facilitate a tourism/visitor focus alongside this so that there is day-and-night, year-round activity to rival any international city," the LTP says.
Deputy Mayor Dave Donaldson, who holds the council's economic development portfolio, said the Lakefront was "pretty tired and poorly designed".
"It's one of the last underdeveloped city waterfronts in New Zealand."
Rotorua businessman Ray Cook said the Lakefront was "very tired" and agreed some redevelopment was needed.
But he cautioned against too much commercial activity in the area.
"Somebody needs to come up with a masterplan," he said.
Donaldson said there should not be a perception that "commercial was being put ahead of public amenity space at the lakefront".
"The gifted reserve is still the gifted reserve."
A new council-controlled organisation (CCO) is proposed to help manage the project, at a cost of $250,000 per year.
The role of the new CCO, Rotorua Lakefront/CBD Development Company, would be to "execute the vision for the central city by managing land assets and entering into strategic and commercial partnerships," according to the LTP.
It would operate at "arm's-length" from the council.
It was expected the cost of running the CCO over the first three years would be $250,000 per year.
"A future goal would be to create new business opportunities that would see the level of funding from council reduced as new sources of revenue are established."
The proposal follows recent announcements that three lakefront buildings will be demolished.
Rotorua's Soundshell, which has been closed in July 2015 after it was found to be earthquake prone, the Lakeside Cafe building, and the Oruawhata Drive site occupied by the Rotorua Central Scout Group will make way for the new developments.
The Long Term Plan also shows an average rates rise of 5.6 per cent has been mooted for the 2018-19 year.
The average rates rise for residential properties will be 7.86 per cent, while businesses will get a 3.09 per cent rise.
Have your say - Online at rotorualakescouncil.nz/letstalk. - Fill out a feedback form and return it to council. - Post comments and suggestion on the council's Facebook page. - Face to face at a series of public engagement opportunities. See the council website for details. - Feedback must be received by April 13.
