Rotorua Lakes Council is currently seeking feedback on a proposal to change the purpose of part of the Rotorua Cemetery from Local Purpose (Cemetery) Reserve to Local Purpose (Community Housing) Reserve.

Consultation opened on Tuesday and will run until August 8.

The Rotorua Cemetery was originally gifted to the Crown for cemetery purposes by the people of Ngāti Whakaue under the Rotorua Township (Fenton) Agreement.

Currently only the southern portion of the reserve is used for cemetery purposes.

The northern part of the reserve is unsuitable for burials due to the ground conditions.

Over the years this part of the reserve has been leased for commercial recreation activities. Today it is maintained as passive open space.

Due to the northern part of the reserve not being used for the purpose it was originally gifted for, it must be returned to Pukeroa Ōruawhata Trust on behalf of Ngāti Whakaue as required by the Ngāti Whakaue Gifted Reserves Protocol Agreement, says a statement released from Rotorua Lakes Council this week.

"The aspiration of Ngāti Whakaue is to enable housing on this piece of land and Council supports this aspiration as part of the recently signed Rotorua Housing Accord.

"The process to return the land requires the current reserve status to be removed through a community process under the Reserves Act 1977 which can take years.

"As an interim solution and to enable this aspiration sooner, while waiting for the land to be returned, Council is proposing to change the purpose of this part of the reserve from Local Purpose (Cemetery) Reserve to Local Purpose (Community Housing) Reserve.

"This would enable Council to issue a lease to Pukeroa Ōruawhata Trust for the development of housing on this land."

Feedback on this proposal can be submitted in writing via Council's consultation platform at rotorualakescouncil.nz/cemeteryreservechange.

There will also be an opportunity for submitters to speak to their submissions during hearings.

More information about this proposal is available at rotorualakescouncil.nz/cemeteryreservechange

A map showing the proposed change area.

FAQs

What type of housing is being proposed for this site and who would live there?
The aspiration of Ngāti Whakaue is to enable housing on this land for Whakaue descendants as a priority. The type and number of houses is yet to be determined. Further detail would be confirmed during the planning stages of the potential development.

Will a resource consent be required for the development?
This would depend on the final housing proposal.

Is it safe and appropriate to have housing so close to a crematorium?
The crematorium poses no adverse health effects to people, and the significant area of vegetation between the crematorium and the part of the reserve proposed for housing would be retained and remain under council management.

Being so close to a state highway, won't this be really noisy for future residents?
Mitigating noise pollution would be considered during the design phase of the potential housing development. Waka Kotahi has also given preliminary approval for a housing development in this space subject to further detailed information being provided about the proposed development.

What is the difference between returning the land/removing the current reserve status and changing the purpose of this piece of land?
Changing the purpose of the reserve means the land would stay as a reserve under the Reserves Act with Rotorua Lakes Council as the Reserve Administering Body. Removing or revoking the status of the reserve means the land is no longer held as a reserve under the Reserves Act and would become private land owned by Pukeroa Ōruawhata Trust.

Can Council just retain the land as open space for the community?
Council is obligated to give back land to Ngāti Whakaue that is not being used for the specific purpose for which is was gifted for the establishment of the Rotorua township. The land was gifted for cemetery purposes but cannot be used as cemetery due to the ground conditions so must be given back to Ngāti Whakaue. The land could be retained by Council while that process was being undertaken.