Editorial: Future looking bright

Pukeroa Oruawhata client manager Peter Faulkner

It's early days but these are exciting times for Rotorua in many respects.

On Saturday we reported reaction to last week's release of the proposed district plan, the document that governs which activities can take place where.

Developers have greeted it with cautious optimism, and say they're now looking to move ahead with some major plans for the city.

One of the most interesting and exciting prospects is the future development of the Lakefront area.

The parcel of land owned by Pukeroa Oruawhata has been rezoned to allow commercial, retail, tourism and residential development.

This question has long been waiting for a decent answer - as a waterfront city, do we make enough of our public and commercial lakeside areas?

Here, now, is a major opportunity to address that question.

As Pukeroa Oruawhata client manager Peter Faulkner pointed out in our story, the site is also close to the CBD and Government Gardens.

But it's the magic of a waterside setting that will allow any such development to become a jewel in Rotorua's crown.

And today we report another reason to be excited - a new culinary and arts festival planned for the city.

Set for July, the event would showcase local arts and food.

From our markets to our cafes and restaurants, this city puts on an amazing and creative range of foods and the idea of a large inner city event celebrating these tastebud temptations is itself mouth-watering.

Visitors who come for the food will also be exposed to the best in local arts, and vice-versa.

Add these events to the long list of others, including Crankworx 2015, and we're in for one hell of a year.