Should City Focus go? Hall says no

Former Rotorua mayor Grahame Hall

Former Rotorua mayor Grahame Hall has called for the City Focus to remain in the CBD.

Mr Hall was responding to comments in yesterday's Rotorua Daily Post by Inner City Focus Group founder Mike Steiner that the City Focus should be removed as part of the inner city revitalisation. Mr Steiner said many people supported the idea of removing the sails, visible barriers and pedestrian area to create a better vehicular and pedestrian flow down Tutanekai St.

But Mr Hall, who was mayor when the City Focus was installed, said that suggestion was "alarming, to say the least".

"Rotorua Central is currently covering up their open mall, Eat Streat is currently being covered and we have a suggestion to remove the cover over the City Focus. It just doesn't make sense to me," he said. "It [City Focus] gives pedestrians some rights and creates a heart of the city."

Mr Hall said it was disappointing the City Focus had deteriorated after being "left to languish".

"If it was refurbished, including more shelter, it could be used much more for live music and exhibitions as was originally intended."

He said some people were concerned the City Focus had become a gathering place for "louts", however refurbishment would move them out.

Mr Hall said it was great to see so many respected business people getting involved in the "much needed" revitalisation and he had noticed a real air of enthusiasm in the city.

However, he hoped the designs produced for public consultation would include the option of retaining the City Focus.

"I am not living in the past - never have and never likely to - but having travelled widely here and overseas I know when I see a really great area that can be even greater.

"Let's build on it rather than destroy it."

Mr Hall said allowing motorists to drive straight down Hinemoa St again would risk turning it "back into a race track as it once was".

Council Inner City Enterprises manager Nick Dallimore said it was still early in the process and all options for the City Focus and inner city were being considered.

He said designers Beca were still collating ideas from stakeholders and nothing at all was decided, which made it an exciting and interesting process.

It was likely to be early next year before any plans were ready for public consultation, he said.