Website of the Year
A new motel, rebuilding a burned-down church, strengthening and alterations to the Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre and a multimillion-dollar private hospital refurbishment.
Those were some of the top projects that were issued building contents in 2020 and were part of 1228 applications worth more than $142 million.
The biggest consent issued last year was $18.9m for seismic strengthening and internal alterations to the Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre.
Rotorua Lakes Council arts and culture representative councillor Mercia Yates said the Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre redevelopment will be of "huge benefit" to the community.
"We are creating a quality, fit-for-purpose, destination venue that will support our local performing arts sector and will bring economic benefits by attracting regional and national shows and audiences.
"The ability to attract good shows will also have benefits from a tourism perspective and will provide social and cultural benefits for our community."
Another of the five top consents issued was $3.3m for the extension and alterations to Ward 2 of Southern Cross' Rotorua hospital on Otonga Rd.
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Southern Cross Hospitals chief executive Terry Moore said the expansion and alteration project was under way and expected to be completed sometime this year.
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Advertise with NZME.Moore said the majority of the project was to refurbish existing bedrooms and ensuites, which they were "enlarging and modernising".
"It's part of an ongoing expansion and upgrade."
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A total $3m was also approved for rebuilding St John's Church on the corner of Victoria St and Ranolf St.
The church burned down in 2017 and about 10 fire trucks were sent to help fight the blaze.
In September last year, the church was approved $3m for the rebuild.
The site for a new church was blessed the following month and the $4.5m rebuild was set to get under way.
Church building committee co-chairwoman Cathy Cooney said the project was well under way.
On January 11 the first big lot of concrete will be poured for the floor, she said.
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Advertise with NZME."It's definitely all on target," she said. "Come February it will be four years since the fire."
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Cooney said they had invested in good acoustics to be able to hold concerts at the church.
The church was planned to be opened later this year with a new minister, Reverend Rob Williams.
"Everybody is starting to get a bit excited now."
Another $3m was approved in April for a new motel, conference room, manager's residence and swimming pool.
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Rotorua Chamber of Commerce chief executive Bryce Heard said the top five consents were "good news" for the city.
"I'm familiar with all of them," he said. "Some are for refurbishments and replacements but some are for brand new investments."
Heard said the investment into the new motel and conference room on Bidois St was "a big one".
"It [the site] has been vacant for quite a while so it is good to see that coming back to productive use.
"The town is far from dead. There's enough activity going on to make you feel people are still quite optimistic.
"It may be that canny investors are jumping in now and getting on with it and good on them."
Top 5 consents for 2020
1170 Fenton St
Rotorua District Council
Issued September 14 for seismic strengthening and internal alterations to the Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre
$18.9 million
1 Geddes Rd
Cox Family Trust
Issued May 22 for fitout and team base building
$5 million
58 Otonga Rd
Southern Cross Hospitals Limited
Issued December 2 for stage 1 - extension and alterations to ward 2
$3.35 million
3 Bidois Rd
Qi-Bos Group Limited
Issued April 29 for new motel, conference room, manager's residence and swimming pool
$3 million
44 Victoria St
The Presbyterian Church Property Trustees
Issued September 11 for a church building
$3 million