Your views wanted for City Focus refresh

The Rotorua Lakes Council is considering a refresh of City Focus Photo/Ben Fraser

Rotorua Lakes Council is considering a refresh of City Focus as part of its Inner City Revitalisation Strategy and has commissioned three concepts that could potentially be developed for freshening up the area.

However before any decisions are made the council wants to get community views on the concepts. At a council meeting last night [Thursday 20 August] councillors agreed to undertake a one month period of community consultation to get residents' feedback, before developing plans for improving City Focus.

Inner City Revitalisation Portfolio lead, Councillor Karen Hunt, said it was important to hear what Rotorua people think before any decisions were made.

"We want to hear from inner city businesses and we want to hear from the public. This isn't about removing City Focus, but it is about updating it and making it work better to meet the needs of today and tomorrow.

"There's been a lot of pressure from inner city retailers to improve the movement of traffic around the Hinemoa/Tutanekai streets intersection, to create shared space, and to enhance sight-lines from all directions. So, after 25 years, it's now time for a makeover of City Focus.

"However, at the same time we know Rotorua people value the heart of City Focus, and they want to retain open places for the public to gather and enjoy entertainment and city events.

"That's the challenge we put to the three professional companies who've now come up with a series of concepts. And I think they've produced some creative and exciting ideas for developing a new-look City Focus to serve current and future needs of our city, and to add much-needed vitality to the inner city.

"So I'd urge Rotorua residents to visit our new inner city Ideas Store near City Focus or jump online, check out the concepts on display and share their views with us," said Ms Hunt.

The council pop-up Ideas Store will open on Monday [24 August] in Hinemoa Street near City Focus (alongside Salon St Bruno) where the concepts will remain on display on large scale boards for people to view and give their comments on, until Friday 25 September. The concepts will also be viewable on large TV screens in the store.

The Ideas Store opens on Monday, and hours are 10am to 3pm on weekdays, and Saturdays from 11am to 2pm.

Also from Monday the three concepts will be featured on the council website - rotorualakescouncil.nz - where people will be able to zoom in on key points of interest. Preferences and comments will also be able to be made directly online.