News Release

Thursday 4 September 2014

Business donations mean safer seating for inner city

Rotorua District Council is progressively installing new public seating throughout the inner city using the unique ‘Jake Seats’ designed by young Rotorua designer Jake Krebs.

The first prototype Jake Seat was installed on the corner of Tutanekai and Eruera Streets following a recent makeover and upgrade of the intersection.

Two more Jake Seats are being installed over the next few days, one at City Focus and one on the corner of Tutanekai and Pukuatua streets.

Thanks to generous donations by local businesses, four more seats are currently under construction, two donated by the Holmes Group, one by TPB Properties and one by social website Neighbourly. Two of those new seats will be installed in Eat Streat and the other two on other Tutanekai-Pukuatua Street corners, bringing to seven the number of Jake seats to date.

The new single seat concept replaces a number of previous larger seating clusters removed from some Tutanekai Street corners and at City Focus. In the past those seating clusters have created problems for retailers and shoppers as they were frequently taken-over by groups of young people, often accompanied by anti-social behaviour.

Councillor Peter Bentley who is part of the Inner City Revitalisation strategy portfolio, said a recent Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) audit recommended replacement of larger seating clusters with single seats scattered throughout the inner city.

“It’s a public safety issue that we’ve been pleased to respond to in partnership with local businesses and the Inner City Focus Group. But it’s also a practical part of our inner city revitalisation action, making the area more attractive and more user friendly,” said Mr Bentley.

The council is keen to see more seats installed in the city and would welcome approaches from businesses or individuals keen to donate a seat. The investment is $3000 and donated seats will be identified with the donor’s company name. D will be consulted on preferred seat locations, and can claim tax back against their donation. Anyone interested can contact Portia McKenzie at Rotorua District Council.

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