Tiny Deane says he will consult with Rotorua community over backpacker and Lava Bar proposal

The Lava is set to close the end of March if a property deal for the homeless goes through. Photo / File

Tiny Deane says his trust will consult with the community over its plans to take over a Rotorua backpackers and run it in partnership with a new medical centre where the Lava Bar now stands.

There has been an "uproar" from the community after the Rotorua Daily Post revealed on Wednesday an Auckland property developer has signed a deal to take over the lease of the Base Backpackers and Lava Bar.

However, Deane, yesterday released a statement saying the Base Backpackers Rotorua would not be utilised as a homeless hub.

"There will be no rough sleepers or people with challenging behaviours," he told the Rotorua Daily Post last night.

"It will be more aimed at people who need pensioner housing where there is not enough. We're trying to fill the gaps where people need housing - be it short-term, until we can get them into permanent housing."

Earlier this week it was revealed Deane's trust, Visions of a Helping Hand, had been in partnership negotiations with social service organisation Whānau Ora which planned to turn Lava Bar into its 16th medical centre specialising in helping those in need at a heavily discounted rate.

Deane told the Rotorua Daily Post this week in an interview there was a big gap in Rotorua with people who needed medical help and who had nowhere to go.

He said often they were taking up hospital beds in medical and mental health wards.

He said with the support of the medical centre, the former backpackers could fill that gap.

He said at the time they were yet to decide how it would run but said it would be similar to his two operations on Fenton St, Tuscany Villas an Emerald Spa, which operated with security guards and wrap-around services that worked to put those there in permanent housing.

The community has reacted strongly to the news and an online petition was started to stop the development. So far it has attracted more than 2200 signatures.

In the statement released yesterday, Deane there has been a misrepresentation of how The Base could be used to alleviate the housing crisis.

"This has caused an uproar in Rotorua especially for family/whānau of children attending education so near to the backpackers."

The statement said discussions continued to be held about how The Base could help with the need in the community.

"There are no finalised decisions however it will not be a homeless hub or an emergency housing complex. If Visions decides to become a part of this project, there will be consultation with stakeholders and other interested parties to ensure the needs of the community and the best interests of Rotorua are taken into consideration," Deane said in the statement.

The statement said Visions of a Helping Hand continued to work towards finding solutions to help those in need with the aim to decrease the negative effects and perceptions towards people experiencing homelessness.

"In the last 10 months Visions has moved 69 families from emergency housing into transitional and private rentals. The week prior to Christmas seven families were housed giving these families the opportunity to celebrate in their own home."

If the deal goes through, the Lava Bar, which has been open since 1996, could close at the end of March to make way for the new venture.

While nightclub goers were mourning the end of an era for the popular nightspot, other locals, business owners and the adjacent Rotorua Primary School expressed concern.

Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick. Photo / File

Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick told the Rotorua Daily Post Deane's initial comments in the media caused a lot of distress within the community.

"I was also immediately concerned. We've had a difficult history with provision of this type of service in the central city in the past, and I don't want a repeat of the issues we experienced then and the heightened concern it generated within the community."

Chadwick said we needed to move forward and it was imperative the central business district had the right mix of activities and a homeless shelter or emergency accommodation was at odds with a vibrant and safe inner city.

"I am not aware of any formal notification or proposal made to council or MSD, MHUD or the DHB for this location. Without knowing more about what type of facility Mr Deane is proposing it's difficult to determine what impact it could have on the community."

Rotorua Primary School principal Fred Whata said the reaction from the public had put those behind the plan on notice.

He said while Deane was saying there would be consultation, he was still concerned.

"With no consultation with local hapū and iwi and the wider community, it makes it really difficult to wrap around the support that he needs for this to be a successful programme. The health and safety of our tamariki and taonga is most important as they are tomorrow's rangatira."

Whata said he understood there were many people struggling and needed somewhere to go to get help.

"But is it our responsibility to be socially looking after and being responsible for everyone's needs?... Rather than giving them fish teach that person to fish so they can have those skills to sustain their families in the future."

In response, Deane said that Visions of a Helping Hand offered a broad range of programmes that provided clients with important life skills.