Final flurry of submissions

Rotorua's future will be decided later this month when the council discusses its Long-term Plan. Photo / File

More than 300 submissions have been received by the Rotorua Lakes Council on its Long Term Plan with a flurry sent in on the final day yesterday.

Two weeks ago only 16 submissions had been made on the 2015-25 plan.

That poor response sparked councillors to encourage community members to view the documents and have their say.

The council had received 672 of a record 1890 submissions to its Te Arawa Partnership Proposal with two weeks to go in that submission process.

Three years ago council received a total of 443 submissions during its last Long Term Plan process in 2012. Yesterday, a council spokeswoman said there were "more than 300 submissions with more coming in throughout today".

The plan sees the average business rate increase by 11 per cent, farm rates up 19 per cent, residential rates up 6 per cent and rural residential rates up 8 per cent.

The council is also proposing to get rid of the weekly rubbish bag collection, replacing it with kerbside rubbish and recycling bins emptied fortnightly.

Plans are also proposed for a $15 million refurbishment of the Aquatic Centre, the demolition of Community House and the creation of a new council-controlled organisation to be called Rotorua Contracting.

The document summarises the key challenges the council faces for the next 10 years.

Proposals to meet these challenges, if approved, will be incorporated into the Long Term Plan, Council's road map and budget for the next decade.

The Long Term Plan is due to be finalised and adopted later this month.

Lake route could boost tourism, says submitter

A new cycle and walkway around Lake Rotorua would bring new business and tourism to the city, one submitter has said.

Ray Hewlett, a Rotorua cyclist who has cycled overseas on holidays, made a personal submission asking for the lake route to be included in the long-term plan, particularly because it supported two of the Rotorua Lakes Council's key priorities.

He said the circumnavigation of the lake would develop a vibrant city heart that attracted people and activity and also developed Rotorua's economic base by growing existing, and attracting new, businesses to the region.

The idea also fitted into the Rotorua Cycle Strategy.

"I've cycled around lakes in other countries and when you come back here our lake is equal to the best in the world.

"It would be great to have a path around it so we can show it off to visitors and tourists," Mr Hewlett said.

"When you compare it to other places it should be a no-brainer but we're already behind the eight ball when you compare Rotorua to Nelson, Hawkes Bay and Taranaki for cycleways."

Mr Hewlett said there was already a popular cycling and walking path between the inner city and Ngongotaha, which could be extended.

There was also a similar path eastwards from the city to the Whakarewarewa Forest via Sulphur Point.

He said the council could build a dedicated path through sections of existing council-owned or managed land around Lake Rotorua, such as Hamurana Reserve and Hannah's Bay Reserve ahead of other sections.

"The idea's not new but it's a matter of joining the people together who can make it happen."