Peak kerbside collections continue, water restrictions in effect
Published on 05 January 2024
Happy New Year and here’s to a happy and prosperous 2024 for us all.
In the last week or so I’ve been out and about, checking in on as many places as I can, including Cooks Beach, Tairua, Whitianga, Hot Water Beach and Hāhei.
I went to Hāhei with the new Conservation Minister Tama Potaka, our Coromandel MP Scott Simpson and representatives from Ngāti Hei and the Department of Conservation. We went to one of the vantage points overlooking Cathedra Cove and I have to say the new tracks DOC and Ngāti Hei have come up with as alternatives to the closed walking path to Cathedral Cove are stunning.
Across the Coromandel our towns are pumping, accommodation is packed, cafes and restaurants are busy. Everything we wanted the summer to be after last year’s challenges.
I’ve been attending some ratepayer and resident association meetings. These tend to be held at this time of year when lots of people are visiting their baches, so I’m seeing people I normally wouldn’t have a chance to. The atmosphere has been positive and constructive.
If you’re looking for activities, there is no shortage of events to go to. See some suggestions below.
On a sad note, we’ve had several fatalities on roads in the district. This is devastating. Please, please, please ease off on the speed and take it easy. Allow plenty of time to travel and factor in delays due to traffic volumes or drivers unfamiliar with our roads. If you spot a queue behind you, pull over where it’s safe and let people pass.
Our additional Kerbside rubbish and recycling collections for the peak summer period are continuing until Friday 9 February.
Areas on the east coast and the north of the Coromandel where visitor numbers are high receive additional services during this period. For Thames Coast & Manaia, and Thames Rural South and Thames & Surrounds the year-round collection schedule remains in effect.
Our contractor Waste Management’s crews will be collecting on the Auckland Anniversary and Waitangi Day public holidays on Monday 29 January and Tuesday 6 February. There are no delays in collections those weeks because of the public holidays, materials are scheduled to be collected on their usual collection day.
Due to the high volumes of material being presented for collection, there has been the odd delay. If your bins aren’t emptied on your scheduled day, the crews will get to them the following day.
Check the collection schedule for your area at www.tcdc.govt.nz/summerkerbside.
Please only put out your bins on the morning of your scheduled collections. If you’re visiting and leaving town before your collection day, you can drop off recyclables at any of our seven Refuse and Recycling Transfer Stations for free. Rubbish in standard 60L plastic bags costs $5 per bag or $2 for smaller bags like the ones supermarkets used to use.
All our transfer stations are open 8:30am-5:30pm during daylight savings. www.tcdc.govt.nz/rts.
After-hours drop-off facilities are available at Matarangi, Tairua, Pāuanui and Whangamatā transfer stations.
Our Tairua and Pāuanui transfer stations now both have Seagull Centre drop-off sites open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 8:30-4pm where reusable items can be dropped for the Seagull Centre in Thames to collect.
We’ve organised a ‘summer roadshow’ with our partner organisation, waste educator Kate Fenwick and her team, outside busy shopping areas of key holiday spots between 9-11 January. Our team will answer questions and host activities:
• Tuesday 9 January, 10-11am, Matarangi shops and 2-3pm at Whitianga Plaza.
• Wednesday 10 January, 10-11am Hāhei shops and 2-3pm Tairua Pepe Reserve.
• Thursday 11 January, 10-11am Pāuanui shops (by the playground) and 2-3pm Whangamatā main street, by the giant surfboard.
wastedkate.co.nz/
There has been heavy rain at times over the past week, making it more challenging to produce drinking water.
The additional dirt and sediments in the streams mean the treatment plants must work harder to produce water, often at lower volumes.
This weather coupled with the influx of people in the townships during summer has resulted in multiple water restrictions across many areas.
Please ensure that you are up to date on any water restrictions in your area by visiting our water restrictions webpage, keeping an eye on our social media, and listening to your local radio stations for daily updates.
Current water restrictions
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Area
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Restriction level
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Start Date Restriction
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Thames
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No restriction
|
|
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Coromandel Town
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Level 3 – Alternate Days
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Saturday 30 December 2023
|
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Matarangi
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No Restriction
|
|
|
Whitianga
|
Level 3 – Alternate Days
|
Saturday 30 December 2023
|
|
Hāhei
|
Level 3 – Alternate Days
|
Friday 29 December 2023
|
|
Tairua
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No restriction
|
|
|
Pāuanui
|
Level 5 – Total Watering Ban
|
Wednesday 3 January 2024
|
|
Onemana
|
Level 3 – Alternate Days
|
Friday 29 December 2023
|
|
Whangamatā
|
No restriction
|
|
|
Thames Valley
|
Permanent Ban
|
|
No fires without permits, fireworks ban
Fire and Emergency NZ (FENZ) has declared a Restricted Fire Season for the Coromandel from Wednesday 20 December until Thursday 1 February 2024. FENZ has also banned the use of private fireworks within our district during this period. This fireworks ban does not include any already planned and approved public fireworks displays.
These measures are to help keep our communities safe from wildfire.
Events in our district
Summer holiday activities at our libraries
Drop in at Mercury Bay Library, Thames Library, and Tairua Library for an action-packed school holiday.
We'll have challenges to try, crafts to make and games to play, as well as some special guests to meet.
- All sessions are free of charge.
- No bookings are required for these sessions - drop in on the day.
- Ages 5-12.
Find out more here
Gig Guide
Coro Classic in Matarangi - Saturday 6 January
Join us to dance away the New Year’s dust in Matarangi. The pristine Coromandel Luxury Escapes will play host to a stellar selection of local and international musical talent across two outdoor stages.
Find out more here
Blue Skies – Sunday 28 January
ZM and August Avenue present Blue Skies: coming in hot this summer with the new Kōpū - Hikuai road open, is a long weekend party at the iconic Coroglen Tavern.
Featuring evergreen power-poppers Goodshirt, chart-smashing rapper / producer Kings, AMA Breakthrough Artist of the Year 2022 award winner Georgia Lines, and more. Start the New Year in the best way, in the best location.
Find out more here