Public feedback wanted on living strategy

Public feedback is wanted on the Rotorua Lakes Council's sustainable living strategy.

Leadership, collaboration, innovation, and change management are the underlying themes of the draft strategy developed within Rotorua Lakes Council's Sustainable Living Portfolio.

It has had input from a wide variety of groups and individuals in the community during the past year and community feedback is now wanted. It covers a wide range of sustainable living issues including housing, waste management, the environment and community resilience, health and wellbeing.

Sustainable Living Portfolio steering group member Winton Smith said the strategy made a bold statement.

"When so many cities globally rue the irretrievable loss of those natural features (like drinkable water) that attracted people in the first place, in this strategy, Rotorua says "well, not us: we love this place".

"This strategy shows how we can continue to value and celebrate the environment which unites and defines us. But the hard questions are answered here too," he said.

"Rotorua has its challenges. Many of us benefit daily from the work of those who've laboured before us to overcome their challenges of the day. Now it's our turn.

"Poverty confronts us. A changing climate, un-swimmable rivers and biodiversity loss muddy the vision our children have of their futures. What must we do for them? This document points us to the collaboration, dedication and opportunity needed to make Rotorua great," said Mr Smith.

In early 2015 a steering group of community members with interests and expertise in a range of topics relating to sustainable living was established within the council's Sustainable Living Portfolio.

Rotorua Lakes Council signed up to the United Nations Global Compact - Cities Programme and the steering group used the programme's "city scan" tool to assess sustainability issues for the district.

Information gathered was shared and discussed with a range of people and groups in the community, to gain an understanding of what was of most importance or concern. This provided direction for the sustainable living strategy and resulted in six key objectives.

Strategies and action plans to address various aspects and challenges have been developed to help achieve the objectives.

The council is inviting feedback on the strategy from the public until the end of October. It is not a formal submissions process but feedback will be considered in the final drafting of the strategy before it goes back to the council for final sign-off early next year.

Groups and individuals who have already had input will be contacted and the strategy is available as an e-book at rotorualakescouncil.nz/SustainableLiving and hard copies can be picked up from council.

People can provide feedback online or by emailing info@rotorualc.nz.

Council staff and steering group members will be available to speak to groups about the strategy. Requests can be emailed to info@rotorualc.nz.

The strategy is intended to be a "living document" which will be open to improvement as a result of learnings and new information.

It includes six key objectives with supporting strategies and actions: