February Community Board meeting highlights
Tairua-Pāuanui Community Board
A feasibility and compliance assessment is underway for a concrete pedestrian bridge on Bennett Drive, Tairua.
A new odour control system was completed at the Pāuanui Wastewater Treatment Plant. We’re working with the supplier to add remote automation functionality, which is the final step of the project. During the busy Christmas and New Year period, the plant was fully operational, and our maintenance contractor kept a close eye on it. We received just one odour complaint, which was quickly addressed.
Whangamatā Community Board
The Board recommended to Council that it:
- Grant a new lease to the Whangamatā Community Marae and Wellbeing Hub Trust for part of 101 Lindsay Road for an initial term of 20 years for community wellbeing, marae and associated activities.
- Approve a Deed of Variation to the sublease between the Whangamatā Golf Club and Connexa Limited. This would replace the current cell tower site with a new tower near the water pump shed, about 8m north of the existing site. The change is subject to resource consent approval.
The Board also approved funding of $10,000 from the Discretionary Fund to Whangamatā Surf Life Saving Club to assist towards the renovation of the surf club.
Thames Community Board
Youth dialogue with the Board
After a successful first year, Thames’ vibrant, new youth organisation, Thames Rangatahi Advisory Panel (T-RAP) is returning bigger and better, offering leadership training, skills development and the opportunity to have a say in decision-making. Applications for new members open on 26 February, expanding to 20 spots. If you’re 12-24 years old and keen to make a difference in the Thames area, or know someone who is, then check out ‘Conecteen Rangatahi’ on Facebook or Instagram for details.
T-RAP presented to the Thames Community Board meeting, sharing their focus areas for 2025:
- health & wellbeing (prioritising ensuring mental health services are youth-friendly)
- taiao | environment
- careers
- continuing to organise monthly events.
The Board expressed strong support for T-RAP’s work and a commitment to ongoing kōrero | dialogue to better understand the needs and viewpoints of young people.
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Project updates
Progress on projects in the Thames Ward over the last few months was outlined to the Board.
Artwork for a welcoming pou whenua at the entrance to Kōpū Marine Servicing and Business Precinct has been created by Ngāti Maru and will be installed very soon. Planting to restore a wetland habitat nearby is planned for autumn through to winter. Construction is due to begin in March for a new public toilet on King Street in Kōpū, near the new commercial wharf. It’s been funded through MBIE’s Tourism Infrastructure funding, alongside six other toilets in the district.
Work starts next Monday 17 February, on upgrading Waiomu Boat Ramp. An area of concrete at the start of the ramp is being replaced to remove the current build-up of stones. Cracks and holes are being grouted. The boat ramp will be closed for a week to allow this work. Boaties are advised to check out nearby ramps as an alternative while work takes place.
A new map-sign, based on the Pinnacles, has been installed in Porritt Park by Thames Public Art Trust. It's part of the promotion project Explore Thames, designed by Brand Matter and paid for by the Thames Community Board.
Plans are well underway to create accessible and safer parallel parking outside Porritt Park public toilet with separation between carparks and the traffic lanes. Roading engineering services are now being procured.
Shortland Street cemetery stairs have been repaired.
The replacement of a new cricket wicket at Rhodes Park has been completed, with contractors replacing a wicket they’d installed previously that did not meet the specifications required.
A handrail on the walkway between Irishtown Road and Bella Street has been installed.
Improvements to Thames War Memorial Civic Centre have been completed. The CCTV system has been upgraded and replacement tables have been bought.
Large shipments of books and other resources were delivered to Thames Library in time for the summer holiday period. Furniture is now being replaced as and when needed.
Thames Public Art Trust is finalising a contractor to complete the installation this month of a new sculpture on the Hauraki Rail Trail: Miners' Gates based on a concept by local artist John McKeowen. Constructed from old railway sleepers, the work references the structure of a mining tunnel as well as the historic rail lines of the area. A section of rail trail path running alongside SH25 Ngāti Maru Highway will be uplifted and relaid in an 'S' shaped curve and 12 frames will be bolted to the path to create the 3.6m high and 3m wide sculptural work. Passing through the sculpture, on foot or cycle, completes the kinetic aspect of the work.
Coromandel-Colville Community Board
At its meeting, the Board:
Networking news
Recently, the Board met with some of their local business and tourism groups, receiving updates from The Club – Woollams Avenue, Coromandel-Colville Business Association, Thrive Trust (Coromandel Information Centre), Tourism Infrastructure (TIF) Bike Park, and CopperWorkxs Coromandel.
The Board is holding its next meeting on 25 March at Colville Hall, 2310 Coville Road, at 9am. The meeting will be followed by a networking session for our northern communities. Please get in touch if you’d like to speak in either the public forum or networking session.
The Mercury Bay Community Board meeting was cancelled due to lack of quorum.
Additional detour south of Thames
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency has closed State Highway 26 between Paeroa and Kōpū while work to replace the Onetai Bridge is carried out this month for about four weeks.
Now, northbound traffic using the Hauraki Road detour will be affected by an additional detour via Orchard East Road, Bush Road and Piako Road.
This week, Hauraki District Council began carrying out a pavement upgrade at Tūrua. While the detour affects any Thames or Tūrua bound traffic, one lane on Hauraki Road remains open for southbound traffic.
The Hauraki Road detour is expected to remain in place until April.
SH26 is expected to reopen mid-March.
Rubbish and recycling red week
We’re back to usual with our kerbside collection system – with alternate ‘red’ and ‘yellow’ weeks. Next week (17-21 February) it’s red week – you can put out your red-lidded rubbish bin and food scraps bin. All your local collections calendars are online at tcdc.govt.nz/bindays
Top tips on securing your Pay as You Throw (PAYT) tag for your rubbish bin:
• Put your rubbish tag through both the red and black handles.
• It doesn’t matter if it’s facing up or down.
• Secure it in place by threading one end through the slot, and then lock it into position by following the ABC steps printed on the tag.
• Watch our video below on how to secure your rubbish collection payment tag:
Paeroa Domain on Sunday 2 March, 10am - 2pm
Come along and celebrate the everyday heroes who keep us safe - Fire and Emergency NZ (FENZ), Hato Hone St John, Police, and other amazing emergency services. The day includes:
- Learn how to prepare for emergencies
- Sign up to volunteer and build your skills
- Enjoy family-friendly games, live demos, and interactive education
- Free sausage sizzle and bottled water
Bring the whānau, pack a picnic, and get ready for a day of fun, learning, and appreciation.
This awesome event is supported by Bluelight, Matamata-Piako District Council and our Council's Emergency Management Unit.
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From Monday 17 February, Waiomu Boat Ramp will close for several days to allow for repairs and maintenance. All nearby boat ramps, including Kōpū, Tararū,Te Puru, Ruamāhunga, Waikawau and Keretā, will remain open so there’s plenty of opportunity still to land the big one. Check out tcdc.govt.nz/boatramps-westcoast
Spatina control vital to protecting native species
A Department of Conservation-led spartina control operation will focus on an infestation of the plants in the inter-tidal areas of Coromandel Harbour later this month.
Spartina is a fast-growing, salt-tolerant grass that can grow to two metres tall.
Although it was originally planted in locations across New Zealand in the 1940s to stabilise land for reclamation, it has become an aggressive and persistent invader of inter-tidal mudflats – like those found around Coromandel Harbour.
Spartina traps silt and sand, impacting the open mudflats needed by many migratory protected birds like kuaka | bar-tailed godwit, moho pereū | banded rail, and tūturiwhatu | dotterel, as well as some shellfish varieties.
A helicopter to apply the herbicide (Halyoxfop), which will rely on a patch of good weather with minimal wind. This will be visible to people in and around the harbour but there is no need for concern.
Monitoring will be undertaken after the operation to ensure water quality in the harbour has not been compromised.
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Help keep pest-free islands safe
This week the Department of Conservation are investigating an alleged illegal landing on one of the Coromandel’s pest-free islands. Pest-free conservation areas and nature reserves are protected to safeguard vulnerable species, and even a single visit can introduce pests that could undo decades of conservation work.
Please remember the rules before you head out on the water:
• Do not land on pest-free islands or their rock stacks. They are closed to the public to protect their biodiversity heritage. In the Coromandel, these islands are the Aldermen Islands (Ruamaahu), Repanga (Cuvier) Island, and six of the islands in the Mercury Islands group – Ātiu Middle, Moturehi Double, Korapuki, Whakau Red Mercury, Kawhitu Stanley and Green Island.
• There is large “no landing” signs on the foreshore of these islands. Unauthorised landings are an offence under the Reserves Act 1977.
• Keep your distance from pest-free islands, as stowaway rodents can make the swim.
• If you’re heading out on the water, make sure your vessel is clean before you leave the shore.
• Report – if you see anyone landing on a pest-free island, call 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468).
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