‘Resource’, the new education centre at the Rotorua Recycling Centre, has officially opened after a year’s planning by RDC.

The new facility focuses on household recycling, solid waste, pollution control, waste water and fresh water, through a series of interactive and stationary displays.

‘Resource’ is open to schools by appointment only, however open days will also be held for the general public.

RDC Keep Rotorua Beautiful coordinator, Christine Findon, said she is pleased that after many months of planning ‘Resource’ is now available as an educational tool for the community.

“Our target group is school-aged children but the centre also caters to the wider community. It provides an opportunity for the

ourROTORUA

THOUSANDS TAKE UP FREE CBD WIFI

council to promote efficient use of our resources and to show how we manage some of our operations.

“St Mary’s School was the first school to visit the centre and they were absolutely amazed at what we had to offer. Inside we have a mock-landfill, interactive displays with paper, plastic, glass and metal, a challenge on packaging options, creations from RDC’s Wearable Arts collection, a tap that children can fill with fresh Rotorua water, displays on the waste water treatment process, the nasty things that get into our drainage system and lakes, and much more.”

The Coca-Cola Foundation, through Keep New Zealand Beautiful, generously sponsored $10,000 towards the project. Materials Processing Ltd is also a major sponsor.

NEWS FROM ROTORUA DISTRICT COUNCIL 31 May 2013

SMOKE TESTING SEWERS UNDERWAY

RDC has begun smoke testing Rotorua sewers to reduce stormwater unnecessarily entering the sewer system.

Testing began around the Elizabeth Street area this week, and will continue indefinitely across the city’s urban area.

RDC Utilities operations manager, Eric Cawte, said smoke testing works by injecting pressurised smoke into localised sewer pipes.

“If smoke appears on the

surface it indicates cracked sewer pipes, broken private drainage or cross connections from downpipes, and means stormwater may be entering the sewer system. This extra water in the sewer can unnecessarily increase daily flows through the waste water treatment plant by millions of litres a day.

“Once any points of stormwater entry have been identified, they need to be repaired by council on public sewers or by

RESOURCE CENTRE OPENED

ROTORUA MUSEUM RECEIVES TRIPADVISOR HONOURS

Rotorua Museum has received a TripAdvisor award honouring tourism and hospitality excellence.

The accolade is only extended to the top performing 10 per cent of TripAdvisor listed businesses worldwide.

The museum consistently achieves outstanding traveller reviews on TripAdvisor, and

maintains an overall rating of four or higher out of a possible five.

Rotorua Museum director, Stewart Brown, said the museum team constantly strives to offer a great experience for visitors, through innovative displays and a wide range of changing exhibitions and events.

“They are passionate about what they do and this

comes across to visitors.“The value of positive reviews

and comments to tourism operators is huge with more and more travellers using the site to help decide where they will visit before they have even left home.”

As the largest travel site in the world, TripAdvisor receives more than 200 million visitors each month.

CHINESE VISITORS FROM ROTORUA-NANJING TOWN

WELCOMED TO RDC

Forty eight residents of China’s Rotorua-Nanjing township were welcomed to Rotorua this month with an official powhiri at the council Civic Centre.

The Chinese visitors are the latest of several hundred residents of Nanjing’s satellite town to visit Rotorua in recent years. The new Chinese township bearing Rotorua’s name has been planned to accommodate a community of around 5000 well-educated and relatively affluent residents in

modern western style houses. People purchasing a home

in the new development receive a holiday in New Zealand’s original Rotorua as part of their purchase arrangements.

RDC Economic & Regulatory Services group manager Mark Rawson said the plan for the Nanjing satellite township development came after a group of Chinese business people visited Rotorua in 2005.

“The Chinese developers were impressed with Rotorua’s natural environment and the way our residents access and use forests, lakes and geothermal areas with minimal impact. The design of a number of the Chinese town’s municipal buildings have subsequently been influenced by the look of buildings here in Rotorua, such as our council Civic Centre,” he said.

NEW APPLIANCES FOR RURAL VOLUNTEER FIRE FORCES

TripAdvisor certificate of excellence awarded to Rotorua Museum.

Powhiri for Chinese visitors at RDC.

the owner if the fault relates to plumbing on private property. By eliminating this extra water from the sewerage network, there will be huge savings in treatment costs, as well as significant improvement in Rotorua’s sewer infrastructure.”

Eric said residents will be notified by mail about the date testing would take place in their areas and reminded again 24 hours in advance of the work starting.

Keep Rotorua Beautiful coordinator Christine Findon at ‘Resource’ education centre.

Rotorua District Council’s newly implemented free WiFi service in the CBD is proving a big hit, with thousands of people already taking advantage of the service.

Free WiFi in the CBD was tested early in the year and has been embraced by users of mobile devices ever since. Monitoring records reveal that last month alone (April) 17,950 visitors and residents logged on to the service.

The free WiFi project is part of a package to help revitalise the

downtown area and stimulate growth in the local economy.

RDC economic projects manager Nick Dallimore said providng free WiFi was a leap into embracing 21st century state-of-the-art technology.

“Visitors, whether on holiday, business or in town for a conference, as well as local residents, now have free and instant access to the web from their laptops, tablets and smart phones, in most public places in the central city.

The council’s Settlement Support and Citizen’s Advice Bureau have launched an updated Volunteering Guide to help newcomers settle into the community.

The updated Volunteering Guide is available from RDC, Rotorua District Library and Citizens Advice Bureau. The online version can be viewed at rotoruanz.com/settlement under the ‘Get Involved in the Community’ section.

BRIEFLYNEW VOLUNTEERING GUIDE AVAILABLE

Did You Know?• Rotorua Museum’s

collection has more than 50,000 items

• Each year there are 20 new exhibitions and 50 events

• The Bath House building was the government’s first tourism venture

• There is a collection of more than 4,000 mini shoes

• 22 fingers are missing from neo-classical Summer’s Sculptures

• They were probably taken during Tudor Towers night club days

• Rotorua Stories Cinema stars Brett McKenzie of Flight of Concords fame.

RDC is testing electronic parking sensors along Pukuatua Street as part of proposed parking initiatives for the CBD.

The ‘SmartEye’ vehicle detection sensor system is being trialled on 30 parking spaces along Pukuatua Street between ASB Bank and the Salvation Army Family Store, and in some other locations known to be high in geothermal activity.

The trial will test how the technology works in Rotorua’s unique geothermal environment and will collect parking data.

RDC Economic & Regulatory Services group manager, Mark Rawson, said the trial would help the council assess the potential for monitoring all parking within the CBD through the new technology.

“It will help Council to assess the potential for introducing time-limited free parking within the CBD in the future.”

The parking trial will continue for two to three months. In the meantime regular enforcement of parking would continue unchanged and meters would need to be feed as usual.

CONTACT THE COUNCIL

Rotorua District Council, Private Bag 3029

Rotorua Mail Centre, Rotorua 3046

Phone: 07 348 4199

Email: mail@rdc.govt.nz

Hours: 8am - 5pm Mon - Fri

Web: www.rdc.govt.nz

OUR i-SITE AMONG NEW ZEALAND’S TOP VISITOR CENTRES

Rotorua Visitor Centre & i-SITE has achieved a near perfect result in the latest Qualmark ‘mystery shopper’ assessment.

The report from New Zealand’s independent quality accreditation programme, Qualmark, measure’s the quality of service provided and critical service measures, such as customer service, presentation

After extensive fundraising efforts and generous sponsorship from individuals and organisations, RDC’s three rural volunteer fire forces have each had major new appliances added to their fleets.

Lake Okareka’s volunteer fire unit secured funding for a $350,000 fire truck, with RDC and the National Rural Fire Authority each contributing $60,000. The Lake Tarawera crew has a new $9000 4-wheel drive double cab ute, and the West Rotoiti volunteer force has acquired

a $50,000 Stabicraft boat. RDC deputy principal rural

fire officer Richard Horn said the rural volunteer fire force teams were “absolutely rapt” to have the new equipment.

“These three fire fighting assets will not only benefit their individual local communities for years to come but also the wider Rotorua district. Our volunteers already do an awesome job, but they’re really excited about the additional capacity they will have with the new appliances.”

Deputy principal rural fire officer Richard Horn.

NEW APPLIANCES FOR RURAL VOLUNTEER FIRE FORCES

and overall satisfaction.RDC’s Visitor Centre & i-SITE

manager Graham Brownrigg said the local centre achieved an outstanding 98 per cent rating, compared with the nationwide average of 74 per cent.

“We’re extremely pleased to have achieved close to 100 per cent in our assessment, and equally proud to be among the

ROTORUA MUSEUM RELAUNCHING ART AWARDSRotorua District Council has relaunched the Rotorua Museum Art Awards after almost 10 years. And this year’s awards offer the largest prize pool ever, with $15,000 in prizes up for grabs.

The awards are for artists working in any medium, except moving image, and are open to Bay of Plenty residents.

Entries for the awards close on Monday 1 July.

Winners will be announced on 9 August. Selected finalist entries will be on display at Rotorua Museum from 10 August until 20 October 2013.

Pick up an entry form from the museum, or for more information online visit rotoruamuseum.co.nz.

MAGIC TAKE ON STEEL AT EEC Rotorua is hosting ANZ Championship netball this Queen’s Birthday weekend.

Bay of Plenty Magic take on Southern Steel at Energy Events Centre on Sunday 2 June. Doors open 6pm, and the match starts 7.20pm.

Tickets can be purchased from Rotorua Convention Centre, however door sales may be available on the day.

very top performing visitor centres and i-SITEs in the country.

“With over 900,000 visitors a year, and being the ‘shop window’ for people arriving in Rotorua, it’s important we present the best possible first impression for our destination.

“Our Qualmark results prove we’re providing a world class service.”

Manager Graham Brownrigg outside Rotorua Visitor Centre & i-SITE.

KOUTU YOUTH SPACE

LAUNCHEDHundreds of people turned up for the official opening of the Koutu Youth Space in Karenga Park earlier this month.

The park now features a skateboard and scooter facility, and a netball/basketball court.

Over 600 people attended the event, which included kai stalls, live music, scooter competitions, a 3x3 basketball competition, and giveaways.

RDC youth projects officer Jill Campbell said she was proud to have worked alongside the Koutu community as the youth space came together.

“Children, young people, and their whanau choreographed a new haka especially for the opening event, while the unofficial Koutu community association fundraised enough money during the opening to register themselves with the Charities Commission.”

The next phase of the park will be to have the site grassed and will eventually include safety lighting and a whanau barbecue area for park users.

FIRE & ICE FESTIVAL

RETURNING THIS WINTER

ELECTRONIC PARKING

SENSOR TRIAL FOR CBD

This winter’s Fire & Ice Festival is returning to Rotorua with a favourite from last year, and three new events.

Ice World has announced that they are coming back to Rotorua with their hugely popular ice rink as part of the winter festival.

Fire & Ice will also feature three new events - Mid-Winter Christmas at the Night Market, outdoor movie Ice Age 4 at the Village Green, and the Luminite lights trail at Government Gardens.

The festival dates are 15 July to 28 July, coinciding with school holidays, while the ice rink will be open for four weeks from 29 June.