Neighbours petition for new entrance/exit at shopping centre

Eighteen Tarawera Rd residents who live next door to the Redwood Centre have signed a petition calling for an alternative entrance and exit for the new retail complex.

Earlier this month, the Rotorua District Council said it was to employ an independent consultant to review the Redwood Centre after complaints about traffic and noise.

Resident John MacRae, who has made complaints about the noise from weights being dropped at Anytime Fitness gym, decided to start the petition as he too has concerns about the traffic.

"The biggest problem for us is with the traffic coming up Tarawera Rd."

He said when he indicated right to turn into the driveway of where he lives other drivers thought he was trying to turn illegally into the Redwood Centre.

"You get people who tailgate you or give you the horn because they think we are turning into the centre ... sooner or later someone will be T-boned."

Mr MacRae said he thought the speed limit should be reduced from 70km/h to 50km/h although he didn't think many drivers drove at the 70km/h speed limit in that area.

He said he thought it would be safer if there was an exit only from the Redwood Centre and no entry.

"All it would mean is another 20 seconds to the entry on Te Ngae Rd."

Mr MacRae sent the petition to councillors and the council's planning services manager, Liam Dagg, who said he would refer it to the independent consultant.

Another Tarawera Rd resident Maryann Avery also signed the petition.

She said the location of the entrance/exit on Tarawera Rd was dangerous.

She said she not only had to look right but also left for traffic that was making illegal righthand turns in front of her as she pulled out of her driveway, which is next to the Redwood Centre. Mrs Avery said there should only be an exit from the Redwood Centre on to Tarawera Rd.

Mr Dagg said the review had been initiated and the petition had been forwarded on to council's external consultant who was undertaking the review.

"The review has a 20 working day statutory time frame set under the Resource Management Act. However, we expect the review to be completed ahead of this time frame."

The Rotorua Daily Post had also received a complaint about the complex having no rubbish bins in the parking area or outside any businesses.

Burger Fuel is the only business which has a rubbish bin outside.

Mr Dagg said the complex was privately owned and the council collected rubbish for the complex but not for individual businesses.

He said council officers had contacted the complex owner, Tony Bradley, who told them rubbish bins were to be installed shortly at each of the takeaway food premises and would be looked after by those individual outlets.

Mr Bradley could not be reached for comment.