Our new Community Partnerships team, Volunteer Week, and more news
Published on 23 June 2023
Community Partnerships Team established to streamline Council support
A Community Partnerships team has been established as a new business unit within our Council – with part of their role being to work collaboratively to support our communities and whānau as part of our Cyclone Recovery Plan. The team includes a Community Relationships Co-ordinator and two Social Navigators, who will focus on strengthening connections between people and support services.
The Social Navigator positions are funded by a Department of Internal Affairs recovery grant and are fixed term for 12 months.
In our cyclone recovery work, the team will support individuals and whānau to navigate their way through the range of social and economic issues being faced from recent weather events, by connecting them up to the right agencies and support networks. They’ll also support initiatives by local iwi and community organisations to build resilience and prepare for future events.
Click here to find out more about this service.
Stormy weather impacts Quarter Three service delivery
The severe weather events, including Cyclones Hale and Gabrielle, meant that meeting our non-financial performance measures on how we deliver service to our customers for quarter three of the 2022/23 financial year was a real challenge.
“Our Council service delivery has felt the effects of this year’s weather events,” says Mayor Len Salt. “That said, I’m especially proud of our Council teams for continuing to go the extra mile to ensure that we have achieved the best results we can under such difficult conditions.”
Our quarterly reports, which monitor non-financial performance measures as part of our 2021-2031 Long Term Plan (LTP), show how effectively we are staying on track to meet our year-end service delivery targets.
Reporting covers how we performed against our targets to deliver items such as water services, roading, solid waste, maintaining our parks and reserves, libraries and so many of the services that our Council provides the community.
Click here to read more and find the full report.
Our latest Road to Recovery update
In this week’s Road to Recovery Update we have news on funding decisions and opportunities, along with other support available for communities and businesses
Click here to read the full update.
Two new bylaws come into force
Two updated bylaws affecting activities, signage and advertising in public spaces come into force on Friday 23 June. They are the Advertising and Signs Bylaw and Activities in Public Places Bylaw.
Find out more about the bylaws and the new provisions in them here.
Fundraising workshops to support our community groups
Next month, Funding HQ are visiting our district to run four half-day fundraising workshops for community groups and not-for-profits. You'll gain practical advice around finding and accessing grants and funding streams to build sustainability and support your goals.
If members of your group or organisation are interested in attending, please email kirstin.richmond@tcdc.govt.nz to RSVP or find out more.
A huge thank you to our local volunteers
To celebrate National Volunteer Week, we said thank you to hundreds of committed volunteers around our district, who work hard to look after our communities and environment.
Our Council held morning teas, lunches and sausage sizzles in Pāuanui, Whangamatā, Coromandel, Thames, Tairua and Whitianga, to celebrate the contribution of our volunteer groups.
“Volunteers are the thing that keeps the town moving. Without volunteers, this town wouldn’t shine,” Thames Community Board Chair Adrian Catran JP said at our Thames afternoon tea.
Guest Speaker Lance Strong, management consultant and Kiaido Ryu karate club founder, highlighted the pivotal role volunteers play as leaders, role models and mentors. “You never truly know the value you add to the lives of others,” he said. “From the bottom of my heart, I can’t thank you enough.”
See photos from the week on our Facebook page.
Project updates
Kauaeranga Valley Trail needs assessment study
The Council is investigating community views on the potential for a new trail in the Kauaeranga Valley.
Community members have raised concern about the need for safe access routes for children walking up the Kauaeranga Valley and for other leisure users accessing the river for walking, swimming or cycling.
To ensure there is an understanding about what the current issues and challenges are for residents and visitors, and to gauge support for a trail, community engagement is taking place in June 2023 through drop-in discussion sessions and a survey. It will collect evidence on the current situation on the issues and trends about the use of the Kauaeranga Valley Road.
To take part, fill in this online survey – open 21 June to 12 July. Or pop into a drop-in session – dates, times and locations are outlined in the graphic above.
After the needs assessment has been analysed, Thames Community Board will consider whether it is adopted and whether the initiative should proceed to the feasibility stage, including, importantly, whether funding can be mobilised to support a trail. Click here to find out more.
Your views on Create the Vibe
You still have a few more days to contribute your views on the future of the Create the Vibe space in Mary Street, Thames.
Click here to fill out the online survey before 25 June.
Alternatively, our researcher will be in Thames town centre to canvas local views on Saturday 24 June from 10am–12noon at Thames Market and from 12pm–2pm at the Create the Vibe space.
If you need help filling in the survey, please visit Thames Library where librarians are on hand to help people with access.
Taumata Arowai - General Advice for Residents
Many of the smaller communities and individual residences in our district have their own private self-managed water systems, collection tanks or stream water supplies. Our Council is not responsible for the operation, control or management of these private water systems.
During significant weather events these systems/supplies can be comprised by flooding and/or slit. This can be due to changes in the water supply, contamination of stored water, damage to pipes, tanks, pumps, or through loss of power supply.
Taumata Arowai has released several Information pamphlets that these communities and residents may find useful as they detail what actions they could take following a weather event.
Read more here.
Community Board Meeting Highlights
Coromandel-Colville Community Board (CCCB)
At last week’s meeting, the Board welcomed our district’s Library Manager, Shana Allan, and members of the Coromandel Community Library Committee, to explore options to maintain library services for the community, including a proposal to become a District Library. It also received an update on the design process underway with Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency for Te Kouma Road intersection, to improve the safety and efficiency of vehicles turning from/into SH 25.
The Board:
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Heard from the Coromandel Community Library Committee that the library was an important gathering place that covered all ages and ethnicities, but it had been hard to secure funding with the high interest rates. The Board asked that any proposal document for the library to become a district library, be presented to the Board before it was considered for the Long Term Plan in early 2024. The Board also supported Coromandel Community Library Committee for funding of $15,000 from its 2022/23 discretionary budget as an interim measure, to help with ongoing operational expenses.
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Received an update on the new design to improve the safety of Te Kouma Road intersection, which has been under review by Waka Kotahi. It’s expected to be signed off at the end of June.
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Received the CCCB capital works programme and heard that the new public toilets at Tuateawa are on track to be finished by late June.
The Board’s next meeting is on Tuesday 25 July at 9am, 355 Kapanga Road.
Thames Community Board
Two events with the potential to bring in substantial visitors to Thames were highlighted in the public forum of the Thames Community Board on Wednesday.
Steampunk The Thames is organising “probably the busiest Steampunk event in the country” on 9-12 November, with the public parade on 11 November and a community picnic in Victoria Park on 12 November.
Thames Croquet Club is hosting a national croquet tournament from 11-14 January 2024 with the potential to bring more than 40 visitors per day.
Both organisations flagged the events as opportunities to leverage further tourism to the rest of the Coromandel.
Porritt Park playground
The new, innovative upgrade to Thames’s Porritt Park playground is due to be ready for use by Christmas this year.
The centrepiece for the playground – a bespoke designed boat, climbing tower and lookout – has been ordered from France and will be installed in October or November. It’s part of an upgrading of Porritt Park to a destination playground that will include a ‘Changing Places’ toilet facility, which includes enhanced disability access. The project was made possible by a large donation from a philanthropic couple.
Community fundraising towards a target of $500,000 has been underway for some time. To contribute please email porrittparkproject@gmail.com
The Community Board voted to defer decisions about the depreciation of the playground assets to the Long Term Plan discussions later this year.
Board members are continuing to advocate with Waka Kotahi for improved road safety for families crossing State Highway 25 to access the playground.
The Board’s next meeting is on Wednesday 2 August 2023, 10am at the Council Offices.
Whangamatā Community Board
The Board:
- accepted a request to retain Community Grants for the Arts Collective, the Onemana Surf Lifesavers, and the Onemana Ratepayers Association, and for the new lease for the Aitken Road Sports Reserve.
- approved the construction of the shelter and noticeboard in Ōpoutere and the gifting of it to Council. They approved the funding request of $6,717 from the Whangamatā Community Board Discretionary Fund.
- requested that Council to ask the Chief Executive to develop detailed proposals for the creation of temporary pedestrian calmed zones in Whangamatā for the 2023/24 holiday season, and report back to the Community Board on the final proposal and potential costs involved.
- recommend to Council that the Chief Executive use the information obtained to this point for the The Hetherington Road Cycleway project to inform a bid for funding for the 2024/34 Council Long Term Plan. The Board also recommended that Council apply for FAR subsidy at 51% from Waka Kotahi in the 2024/34 Regional Land Transport Plan to potentially reduce the local rates burden from the project.
Questions were raised in the Public Forum about Council's grant to the Whangamatā community swimming pool, and the future of the unspent portion of the grant. To clarify some misconceptions about the funding:
- There was no local rate targeted for the pool only. A grant was made to the Swimming Pool Committee, funded through the Whangamatā Local Works and Services rate. This rate funds all locally funded Council activities.
- No funds have been moved around. Funds raised are not able to be used for other than what it’s been raised for.
- The recent decision made through the Annual Plan process is that 50 per cent of the retained earnings reserves as at July 2022 would be used to offset rates in each respective Ward. For Whangamatā, as at July 2022 the starting position was $205,216, meaning that $102,608 will be used to offset rates for AP23/24, leaving a balance $102,608.
- Once year end processes have been completed, current predictions for the Whangamatā retained earnings reserve opening balance is that there will be enough funds to fund the remainder of the Pool Committee’s grant for the coming 2023/2024 financial year. However, in the unlikely event that retained earnings are not available, staff are committed to looking into all other options, including funding the grant through a loan (subject to Council approval).
The Board’s next meeting is on Tuesday 1 August 2023, 10am at the TCDC board room, 620 Port Rd.
Tairua-Pāuanui Community Board
The board granted the retention of unspent 2022/2023 Tairua-Pāuanui Community Board Grants from Pāuanui Half Marathon, Tairua Hall Committee and Tairua Care and Friendship Club.
The Manaia Hub project has been defered as part of the Annual Plan, but planning work will be completed and construction will be reconsidered in the Long Term Plan process later this year.
Beaumont Green playground in Pāuanui will receive a shade cover with installation on track for this month.
The Board were advised that this year’s budget for Pāuanui/Holland Stream Improvements will be spent on maintenance works.
The next Board meeting will be held on 31 July at 10am.
Mercury Bay Community Board
The Board heard updates on several significant projects in the area. An updated layout design for the new Whitianga Refuse Transfer Station is in progress and should go to the Council meeting on 2 August for approval to begin. The project has been subject to delays because of contractor availability, supply chain issues, material cost escalations, site conditions and wet weather. The playground at Meri Te Tai Reserve in Whangapoua is complete, with interpretive signage being produced. The design for renewing the coastal protection at Brophys Beach has been confirmed and the replacement geotextile sandbags are on order with completion expected around mid-August.
The Board's next meeting is on 26 July at 9am in the Board room at 10 Monk St, Whitianga.
The Council will meet on 27 June 2023 at 9am.
Dogs available for adoption
The beautiful, fun and friendly Ziggy has been with us for a wee while and as much as we love him, we can’t wait for him to find his forever home.
Ziggy is an energetic huntaway cross who loves to play fetch, knows some commands, and sits and waits before he eats. He loves attention and would suit an active owner. If you’re interested in adopting lovely Ziggy, phone 07 868 0200 and our team will be in touch.
Jobs at our Council
Credit Controller
We are recruiting for a Credit Controller to join our Rates team in a full-time, permanent position. Areas of responsibility include the collection of outstanding rates and water rates, administering Council's rates postponement scheme and Māori freehold land rates.
Utilities Engineer – Stormwater
This is an exciting opportunity to join our Infrastructure Team and assist with the overall management of Water Services assets and operational service delivery. This is a busy and varied role, and we are looking for someone who thrives working under pressure, has experience with budget management and strong contract management experience.
Casual Wharf Warden – Sugarloaf Boat Ramp
Casual Boat Ramp warden/officer required to assist at Sugarloaf Wharf to cover staff absences and to work on an as-required basis. Primarily working on weekends and peak season, in this role you will work with users to enter boat ramp passes electronically and guide users through the use of the QR payment system and ensure recreational users park safely.
Why choose Thames-Coromandel?
The Coromandel offers breath-taking scenery, golden beaches, and remarkable rainforests. Our district offers a peaceful, restorative atmosphere with plenty of opportunities for adventure. Our district is only 90 minutes from the big cities: Auckland, Tauranga, and Hamilton. Close enough for a regular commute, but far enough for a complete change of pace. That sets our district apart.
Click here to see our full list of vacancies.