Rotorua lakefront prompts concerns for children's safety, child falls off new boardwalk

Some members of the public have called for safety railings to be installed along the boardwalk. Photo / Andrew Warner

Fears for children's safety at Rotorua's new lakefront are ramping up after a toddler fell off the boardwalk into the water last weekend.

However, Rotorua Lakes Council said the boardwalk design met all health and safety requirements and it was a good reminder for children to be actively supervised around water.

The new boardwalk is part of stage one of the $40 million lakefront redevelopment initiated by Rotorua Lakes Council with financial support from the Provincial Growth Fund.

The boardwalk's grand opening earlier this month was met with mixed responses.

While some members of the public thought the boardwalk was "cool" and "kid-friendly", others expressed concerns about child safety and called for the installation of railings along the walkway.

On Sunday, those concerns for children's safety were amplified after a toddler drove his bicycle off the boardwalk and into the lake.

Lesley Trendall and her brother Alan Kendall were enjoying a Sunday morning stroll down the boardwalk when it unfolded in front of them.

"The little boy was just biking happily along," Trendall told the Rotorua Daily Post.

"His parents were right there and they were watching him. Then he was turning his little bike."

Lesley Trendall and her brother Alan Kendall could do nothing but watch as a toddler fell from the boardwalk into the lake. Photo / Andrew Warner

The events that followed happened so quickly Trendall said no one was in a position to prevent them.

"One minute he was there and the next he was disappearing under the water.

"He was completely submerged. We couldn't see him."

Trendall watched as a bystander jumped into the water to pull the child out.

"The water reached up to [the rescuer's] chest."

Trendall said when he spoke to the family, the child appeared fine but everyone was shaken. She was unable to get the family's details at the time.

"It was just before midday so there were quite a few people there," Trendall said.

"In my opinion, the boardwalk needs to be closed until these safety issues are addressed."

Kendall said the incident could have happened to anyone's child.

"Lots of young children zoom around there on their scooters. They're with their parents but they're also metres ahead of them.

A toddler fell off the boardwalk into the lake where he was completely submerged until a bystander came to the rescue. Photo / Andrew Warner

"It's such a low edging. You could easily trip over it. There are going to be more accidents like this unless some railings are fixed."

When the boardwalk first opened a few weeks ago, Rotorua resident and former councillor Mark Gould thought it was too soon.

"There are no safety features there," Gould said.

Gould would like to see railings installed on the boardwalk and the provision of life saving devices like floatation rings.

"People's lives are important. All you need to drown is about two inches of water and when the first person drowns, that's a life we won't be able to get back."

Gould said he was also concerned mess created by swans and seagulls would make the walkway slippery.

"It's not enough that the place gets cleaned once a day," Gould said.

"If someone gets injured they could be off work. They could be suffering for the rest of their lives."

Rotorua Lakes Council community wellbeing deputy chief executive Jocelyn Mikaere said the council had not heard from the "affected party" or the witness to the incident.

However, Mikaere said the council heard from a friend of the family on Sunday afternoon.

"We are sorry to hear that a child has had a fall.

"From what has been shared with us, the child was being actively supervised, which is a good reminder that as with any of our beautiful water spaces around Rotorua, whether it be this new boardwalk, other lake or stream edge paths or our many jetties, we need to actively supervise our children around the water."

Mikaere said safety was a priority for the council and the boardwalk and other areas of the lakefront development had been designed with that in mind.

"The boardwalk design met all health and safety requirements and building consent was granted on that basis."

The new boardwalk has improved safety along the lake edge, including raised concrete and timber edging and a black contrast strip against the white concrete to provide "greater visual definition" of the edge, Mikaere said.

Rotorua Lakes Council sport, recreation and environment manager Rob Pitkethley previously told the Rotorua Daily Post the boardwalk and other areas of the development had been designed with safety in mind.

"The boardwalk design met all health and safety requirements and building consent was granted on that basis.

"When spending time around any body of water, everyone needs to be mindful of the risks water can pose and take precautions to keep themselves and those around them safe while enjoying these spaces."