"We rolled up our sleeves and, by working closely with stakeholders, we started making the changes necessary to return the council to being a lean and sustainable organisation.
"We dealt with a range of challenging issues in 2014 and we completed an intensive programme. People can be assured that we're going to continue that momentum during the 2015 year as there's still a huge body of work to be done during the second year of our current term."
She said the goals and priorities identified when the council engaged with people across the district about their aspirations for Rotorua's future would guide councillors through the year.
"We're a council of action and we already have a pretty impressive list of achievements behind us. Our focus this year will remain solidly on achieving our priority goals for the community. That was a commitment we made and we're determined to deliver on it."
Mrs Chadwick said the council's 2015 programme would continue to be marked by a collaborative approach through genuine partnerships with business, iwi, the Crown and government agencies, community groups, other local authorities and the wider community.
"We've already seen with our inner city revitalisation goal that real progress can be made by working hand-in-hand with others - in this case the Inner City Focus Group, retailers, business operators, Rotorua police and Pukeroa Oruawhata Trust, to name just a few," Mrs Chadwick said.
Council strategy and partnerships group manager Jean-Paul Gaston said the mayor and councillors would shortly be determining a detailed work programme for the year and he expected this would be finalised next month.
He referred to a number of projects already signalled for 2015 where strong community interest and involvement was expected.
Top six:
Long Term Plan 2015-2025:
This strategic plan is effectively a 10-year blueprint for the district's future. It sets out, at a high level, what the council is going to do over that period, what it will cost, how it will be paid for, and how performance will be measured.
Legislation requires the development of a new Long Term Plan every three years. Public consultation on the 2015-2025 Long Term Plan will take place around April and public hearings will be held where people will be able to speak to the mayor and councillors in support of their submissions.
The new plan will be adopted by the mayor and councillors by the end of June and come into effect at the start of the new council financial year on July 1.
New sewerage schemes:
Progress is expected to be made on two key sewerage projects in 2015, both of which will support the council's Rotorua 2030 goal of an "enhanced environment".
One is a new scheme for the lakeside communities of Rotoma and East Rotoiti. Just prior to Christmas, the council approved recommendations for preferred sewerage schemes put forward by a community-based steering committee which had been considering a range of options and engaging with local residents throughout the year. The next step will be to undertake design and costing work, and resource consent applications, and then consult further with local communities.
The other key sewerage-related project also involves working alongside a group of community and iwi representatives. This project is to identify alternatives to the existing spraying of treated wastewater from the wastewater treatment plant in Whakarewarewa forest.
Te Arawa partnership model:
Identifying and implementing a new partnership model between Te Arawa and the council is another key project for 2015. This would replace the previous Te Arawa standing committee which has been disestablished having been seen by the council and iwi as no longer meeting the needs of both parties. Under legislation, councils are required to put in place measures that help Maori to contribute to decision-making.
At the last council meeting of 2014, Rotorua Lakes Council approved "in principle" a new partnership model submitted to Rotorua Lakes Council by Te Arawa, following a year of research and consultation with iwi members.
The model includes the establishment of an independent Te Arawa board outside of council as the key group for council engagement and advice on matters related to iwi. That board would appoint two representatives, with voting rights, to sit on the council's two main standing committees, one representative on the council's chief executive performance committee and one on Resource Management Act consent hearings committees.
However, before making final decisions on implementation of a new model for partnering with Te Arawa, the council is to embark on a programme of community consultation over the coming months.
Green corridor:
The concept of a "green corridor" through the inner city area is aimed at providing a dedicated pathway alongside existing footpaths for the likes of cyclists, joggers, walking groups and people on scooters. In particular, it will reinforce aspirations for Rotorua to become a more cycle-friendly city, by linking up with the existing network of cycleways across the district.
The project is expected to cost $397,000 in total, and the New Zealand Transport Agency has committed $227,000 of the project's funds.
Work on the first stage of the Green Corridor, through Kuirau Park, is expected to be completed in the next few months.
Local alcohol policy development:
Last year, Rotorua Lakes Council received public submissions and held public hearings on a draft local alcohol policy (LAP) being developed under the new Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012. Work will continue this year to develop and finalise the LAP for Rotorua and a final version is expected to be adopted by the middle of the year.
This will be the first time councils have been able to develop alcohol policies that take into account their local conditions and the views of their specific communities around things such as the number of liquor outlets, their locations and when licensed premises are permitted to operate. This is something the council has advocated for many years.
The working group drafting the local alcohol policy is chaired by councillor Karen Hunt with councillors Rob Kent, Mike McVicker, Glenys Searancke and Tania Tapsell.
Representation review:
The future shape of democracy in Rotorua will to some extent be shaped by the outcome of a major review of representation arrangements for Rotorua district being undertaken this year.
The council is required to review these arrangements every six years and to look at matters such as how many councillors there should be, whether there should be wards and whether First Past the Post, STV (Single Transferable Vote) or some other voting system should be used.
The representation review will involve community consultation and when finalised will determine what arrangements will apply for the next local government elections due in 2016.
Rotorua Lakes Council committee and council meeting schedule
Wednesday February 4: Strategy, policy & finance committee meeting
Wednesday February 18: Operations & monitoring committee meeting
Thursday March 8: Rotorua Lakes Council meeting
Wednesday March 14: Strategy, policy & finance committee meeting
Wednesday March 21: Operations & monitoring committee meeting
Friday March 27: Extraordinary council meeting to adopt draft Long Term Plan
Wednesday April 1: Strategy, policy & finance committee meeting
Thursday April 16: Rotorua Lakes Council meeting
Wednesday April 29: Operations & monitoring committee meeting
Wednesday May 20: Strategy, policy & finance committee meeting
Thursday May 28: Rotorua Lakes Council meeting
Wednesday June 17: Operations & monitoring committee meeting
Tuesday June 30: Extraordinary council meeting to adopt Long Term Plan
Wednesday July 1: Strategy, policy & finance committee meeting
Thursday July 16: Rotorua Lakes Council meeting
Wednesday July 22: Operations & monitoring committee meeting
Wednesday August 5: Strategy, policy & finance committee meeting
Thursday August 20: Rotorua Lakes Council meeting
Thursday September 3: Operations & monitoring committee meeting
Wednesday September 16: Strategy, policy & finance committee meeting
Thursday October 1: Rotorua Lakes Council meeting
Wednesday October 21: Operations & monitoring committee meeting
Thursday October 29: Extraordinary council meeting to adopt annual report
Wednesday November 4: Strategy, policy & finance committee meeting
Thursday November 12: Rotorua Lakes Council meeting
Wednesday November 25: Operations & monitoring committee meeting
Wednesday December 9: Strategy, policy & finance committee meeting
Thursday December 17: Rotorua Lakes Council meeting
* Dates are subject to change. Council meetings begin at 7pm. Committee meetings begin at 9.30am. Meetings are open to the public
