The Coromandel open for business
Published on 07 February 2023
Almost all the roads on the Coromandel are open, or partially open, and our businesses are ready to welcome you.
We’re in clean-up mode this week so there is a lot of heavy truck traffic on our roads as the mess from slips and other damage from last week’s storms is being cleared. Drive with caution on both State Highways and local Council roads.
Check our website or Facebook page for the latest Council road status. Check the Waka Kotahi website for State Highway updates.
If you’re thinking of heading into the great outdoors, check with the Department of Conservation (DOC) on what tracks, huts and campgrounds are available as lots of these have been damaged or affected by the weather and may be closed.
Koputauaki debris dam
In the hills above Koputauaki, on Colville Road north of Coromandel Town, Urban Search and Rescue teams are remapping the area to gauge the extent to which a water build-up behind a debris dam has subsided.
Yesterday, a helicopter dropped monsoon buckets of water on the debris dam to slowly erode the earth and allow the controlled release of the built-up water. Initial assessments are that this operation has had some success. The remapping will allow the extent of the water release to be accurately determined.
At-risk residents of Koputauaki have been evacuated and the local Colville Road bridge is open with traffic control in place.
Watch our video below of yesterday's water release operation and read our news release with more detail on the work.
As our district-wide state of emergency declared on Friday continues, much behind-the-scenes work continues to make sure damaged roads are identified and repaired and hills at risk of subsiding or slipping are identified too. Check our website for more details of this largely hidden multi-agency work.
Whitianga Refuse Transfer Station early closure
Whitianga Refuse Transfer Station (RTS) will be closed from 12.30pm tomorrow afternoon - Wednesday 8 February.
The closure is required to fix a drainage problem under the weighbridge caused by the severe weather.
The Refuse Transfer Station will reopen at 8.30am on Thursday 9 February, operating under summer hours until 19 February, which means it stays open until 5.30pm.
Thank you for your understanding of the need to keep our facilities safe and well maintained.
Ōpoutere rāhui lifted
The rāhui in place at Ōpoutere Beach, the Wharekawa Harbour and Wharekawa River following a drowning incident in January has been lifted.
Appropriate tikanga to lift the rāhui was undertaken by kaumatua at Ōpoutere Beach yesterday (Monday 6 Feburary).
Members of the public are now free to resume recreational activities, fishing and shellfish collection at these locations.