Local Elections are coming, emergency readiness, project updates

Published on 14 March 2025

We’re in the final stage of our emergency preparedness project, providing Civil Defence Caches for our four largest communities—Whangamatā, Whitianga, Thames, and Coromandel Town.

In response to the increasing risk of extreme weather, our Council has been working to strengthen our communities’ ability to respond quickly and effectively. Since the 2023 weather events, we’ve set up a network of Community Response Groups and marae-based manaaki groups. These groups are made up of dedicated volunteers who help coordinate welfare support during emergencies.

The caches are packed with emergency supplies that will help communities respond in the first critical hours of a disaster—providing essential equipment, first aid and resources to support those in need and provide vital communications and information links between the Emergency Operations Centre and the community.

Last week, we unveiled the Whangamatā Civil Defence Centre Cache to the local Community Response Group. Bringing these caches to life has taken months of planning, coordination, and dedication from our teams and community volunteers, all working towards the same goal—ensuring that when an emergency happens, our communities are ready to respond.

Community Resilience Coordinator, Pam Balt, shares, “working with and for our communities, on this project over the past two years, has been the most rewarding project I have ever worked on. The selfless commitment, dedication, passion and knowledge that lies within our communities is mind blowing."

She adds, “The severe weather events of 2023 were tough, but not all doom and gloom. The silver lining came in the form of generous recovery funds received, from various government and other agencies, to enhance response and strengthen our resilience. We proved that when we work together, we can achieve so much more.”

If you’d like to learn more or support your community when emergencies happen, now is a great time to get involved. We have Community Response Groups in every area, with some serving as Civil Defence Centres and others as Community-Led Centres for smaller areas. Training is now provided to make sure we have the capacity and capability to respond and recover from such events. 

Kay Gregan (Whangamatā Community Response member) states, "Being prepared for an emergency is crucial. We never know when disaster will strike, but having a plan in place gives us the best chance to respond effectively. The more our community gets involved, the stronger our response will be."

Fill in the form below to join your local group and help strengthen your community’s response.

Sign up here

Two years after extreme weather in 2023, Council is better prepared for future emergencies and has taken key learning points forward into its Civil Defence and Emergency Management planning, this week’s Council meeting heard.  

Building relationships with communities and agencies across the district has been key to emergency preparedness. Our staff ‘social navigators,’ played a crucial role in supporting communities and affected property owners. They provided a consistent, approachable link to Council, helping people voice their concerns and navigate the support available.

Council expressed gratitude to Recovery Lead Stephen Town as he concludes his role at the end of this month, leaving the district better equipped to move into recovery in future emergencies. Our Chief Executive, Aileen Lawrie paid tribute to the impact his leadership has had inside the organisation.

These key recovery roles, Recovery Lead and Social Navigators, were funded by a Department of Internal Affairs Recovery Grant. 

Council also heard from Civil Defence and Emergency Management Manager Brian Carter that this year’s summer peak went smoothly, with no major issues. The only notable emergency event was the Kūaotunu bush fire in mid-January, which Fire and Emergency NZ handled very capably.

Getting ready for local elections

At their meeting on Tuesday, councillors also voted to retain the alphabetical listing of candidates on voting papers.

Local elections for the district mayor, councillors and community board members are being held on Saturday 11 October.

Make sure you're registered to vote.

Think about running as a candidate. Nominations open on Friday 4 July and close at noon on Friday 1 August.

Find out more

How to vote:

Resident Roll: If you're already on the parliamentary electoral roll, including the Māori Electoral roll, you are automatically entered on the Resident Roll at the address where you live. If you've moved recently go to www.vote.nz or call 0800 36 76 56 to change your details.

Ratepayer Roll: Own a property in Thames-Coromandel District but don't live here? You can most likely vote here, but you have to register separately. 

Register to vote as a non-resident ratepayer

Thames Protection & Resilience

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Project updates

Whangamatā stormwater update

As part of our 2024-34 Long Term Plan, $9.171 million of capital funding was allocated for stormwater improvements in Whangamatā.

For 2024/25, $2.135m is allocated to priority projects based on the Whangamatā Stormwater Improvement Project Master Plan. Initially, upgrades were planned for Hetherington Road and Harbour View Road outlets. However, surveying undertaken at detailed design has meant the Harbour View Road project has been deferred and efforts will focus on upgrading Hetherington Road’s stormwater system.

The project, designed in phases, will extend into 2025/26 and support future upgrades in flood-prone areas towards the centre of the town. Traffic disruptions on Hetherington Road are expected, therefore traffic management is a key part of the project. 

Williamson Park  

Our Council has completed stormwater quality monitoring at Williamson Park dry detention basin (Aug–Nov 2024). The test results indicate the stormwater runoff has a low contaminant load, reflective of the low-density residential catchment and does not justify the installation of a full water quality treatment wetland.    

Instead, it is proposed to convert the existing dry detention basin into a planted dry detention basin, which together with gross pollutant traps is expected to remove 85% of total suspended solids, meeting Waikato Regional Council’s stormwater guidelines and the Comprehensive Stormwater Discharge Consent. To enhance water quality and the park’s ecology, the basin will be planted with native grasses, flaxes, and sedges.

A community planting session is planned for April-June 2025. 

Find out more

Windy Point seawalls

Work on building two seawalls at Te Kouma Rd (Windy Point) is scheduled to begin a week earlier on Monday 17 March, due to the rapid progress of works at Woodroffe Rd, Wuyuna Bay which are included in the same contract.   

Work at the two sites on Te Kouma Rd (either side of Windy Point – see map above) involves building seawalls using large rocks to withstand the impact of the sea and waves. It should be complete (weather allowing) within five weeks.   

A sign will be installed, and a letter drop has been completed for vehicles parked at Windy Point that will need to park in an alternative location during construction.  

Parking in this area can resume once the work is finished.   

Thanks everyone for your patience and consideration as these necessary repairs are done.

Find out more

Kennedy Bay Road slip repair

Our contractors, Kelsey Construction, will begin a slip repair project on Kennedy Bay Road starting Monday 17 March. The work site is located approximately 2.3km from the Colville Road turn-off and estimated to take up to five weeks to complete (weather dependent). We ask road users to please plan for delays of up to 20 minutes during the working hours of Monday to Friday, 7am – 7pm.

We appreciate your patience and cooperation while we complete these essential repairs.

Whitianga Boat Ramp works

The Whitianga Esplanade Wharf boat ramp will be closed to the public on the Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 March for road resurfacing and repairing damaged areas.

Alternative ramps nearby are: Whitianga Dundas St boat ramp, Robinson Road boat ramp and Hei Esplanade boat ramp.

Kickstarting 2025: Our Economic Development Newsletter

The latest economic development news and updates for our Thames-Coromandel district. Our newest edition is packed with insights and highlights.

Read the full newsletter

District Licensing Committee Appointments

Our Council’s District Licensing Committee (DLC) is responsible for making decisions on alcohol licences and manager certificates across our district. 

Apply here

Soft plastics success

More than 36 tonnes of soft plastics have been diverted from landfill since the scheme started in the district in 2022, thanks to a partnership between our Council and The Packaging Forum. That’s the equivalent of more than seven elephants in weight. 

Under the scheme, soft plastics deposited at collection points in Thames, Coromandel Town, Whitianga, Coromandel Town, Pāuanui and Tairua are collected and turned into fence posts or building material. 

Find out more

Reducing food waste

Did you know that food waste feeds climate change? If food waste were a country, it would be the third largest emitter of greenhouse gases. But, the good news is tackling food waste at home is the single most impactful action each of us can do. Check out our partner’s Love Food Hate Waste campaign. 

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