Rotorua the next city of trams?

Christchurch has them and Rotorua could become the next tram city in New Zealand if some residents get their way.

Rotorua District Council staff say trams would be a great way to move people around the city and plenty of residents agree.

About a quarter of the 115 people who gave their views to the Rotorua District Council as part of the CBD Revitalisation Strategy said they want trams in Rotorua, particularly on Tutanekai St.

Grant Kilby, head of the council's economic development unit, said he would like to see two trams operating on Tutanekai St - one to carry passengers during the day and the other to be used as a moving restaurant at night.

"I think it's in keeping with the architectural style of the museum, the Government Gardens, the Bath House and some of the vistas on Tutanekai St. They would add a bit of Colonial flavour or Victorian flavour."

Mr Kilby said trams would add vibrancy to the city and would be a nice way of moving people around the city. They could run on wheels or tracks.

When Mr Kilby told councillors at the council's finance committee meeting this week about the interest in trams councillor Maureen Waaka said she would not like to see a "regurgitation" of what had been done in Christchurch in Melbourne.

"What about waka on wheels? We need to do something innovative rather than a copy."

Mr Kilby said trams in Melbourne and Christchurch were well used and he would like to see them in Rotorua within the next 10 years but that would be determined by whether the council saw it as a priority. He had no idea how much trams would cost to operate.

Details and results from consultation about the CBD Revitalisation Strategy, the Lakefront Redevelopment Strategy and the Traffic Demand Strategy will be compiled before councillors consider any recommendations. The community will then be consulted again.

The aim of the CBD Revitalisation Strategy, commissioned by the council in 2006, is to better link the centre of town from the Central Mall, through to the Lakefront. People who provided feedback on the strategy said the City Focus was dated, questioning its location and citing concerns about groups spending their time there.

There were also calls for better walking and cycling facilities, outdoor dining, more art and entertainment in the central city, an improved bus service, more grassed areas and more people living in the central city in apartments and town houses built over shops.

Some people said they wanted to see the Rotorua Courthouse moved, saying there were security issues and it did not add vibrancy to the city in its current location, on the corner of Tutanekai and Arawa streets.

Concerns over the location of the courthouse was raised when the council initially commissioned the revitalisation strategy but Mr Kilby said no direct question was asked about it during the feedback process.

Councillor Glenys Searancke said at this week's finance committee meeting the council had previously approached the Ministy of Justice about moving the courthouse but was told if the council wanted it moved, the council would have to pay.