Weekly wrap-up: Our Coromandel magazine, Lead the Way campaign & more
Published on 08 November 2024
Read it now: Our Coromandel magazine 2024-2025
Explore our brand-new Our Coromandel magazine 2024-2025 online or in print.
Read it online: We've made it super easy for you to browse our magazine online with a simple flip book. No need to download, just follow this link and get reading. Click the full screen button at the bottom right of the flip book for the best reading experience.
Download a copy: You can also download a PDF version of the magazine to keep forever. Download your own copy right now here.
Grab a print copy: Hard copies have been sent to our out-of-district ratepayers in the mail. If you'd like to snag a hard copy for yourself, pop into your local Council office, library, or information centre to pick one up for free.
Learn more here
Lead the Way: Responsible dog ownership for a safer community
Our dogs are a valuable part of the whānau, so it’s important that owners know what their responsibilities are, and how we can work together to keep both the people and dogs in our communities happy, healthy, and safe.
• Keep your dog under control and on a lead unless otherwise specified.
• Register and microchip your dog and ensure it wears a current registration tag.
• Know and follow local dog rules, use the traffic light signs to understand where certain rules apply. Check out our dog rules page for more information
• Pick up after your dog to help keep our spaces clean.
• Prevent your dog from being a nuisance to people, animals, or wildlife.
• Provide regular exercise, access to shade, food, and fresh drinking water for your dog.
Confident that you’re up to date on the current dog rules? Test your knowledge with our short dog rules quiz and be in to win a $100 Prezzy card.
Take quiz
How to dispose of fireworks safely
Been having a blast on Guy Fawkes Day? Wondering how to safely dispose of leftover fireworks? Here’s what to do:
- Soak - Fully submerge the fireworks in a bucket of water and let them soak overnight.
- Wrap - Double wrap the soaked fireworks in plastic wrap or bags to keep them from drying out.
- Dispose - Place the wrapped fireworks in your red rubbish bin, or take them to one of our seven Refuse Transfer Stations. Please do not put them in your recycling bin - dispose of them safely.
We also encourage people to think about the risk fireworks pose. Before lighting them check it is safe to do so by visiting checkitsalright.nz.
If it is windy do not light fireworks. If it is safe to light, here are a few simple precautions you can take to keep your whānau, animals and community safe:
Be a good neighbour. Let people around you know you are setting off fireworks especially if they have pets or livestock.
Light them in a wide-open space, away from anything that could catch fire.
Ensure your fireworks are pointed at the sky and won’t end up in anything that can catch fire including buildings or vegetation.
Have a large bucket of water or hose at hand.
Dispose of your fireworks safely
Project Updates
Drop-in session for Whangamatā stormwater flood modelling
Over 20 local business representatives, including real estate professionals, builders, and developers, attended our recent industry session. They engaged with Council’s Water Services, Regulatory, Planning, and Building teams to discuss updates on the stormwater flood model. Our team provided valuable insights on how these developments impact new projects and answered attendees' questions.
Public drop-in sessions for property owners seeking detailed information have also seen a steady turnout. Three more sessions are available:
- Monday 11 November: 10am-1pm
- Friday 15 November: 3pm - 6 pm
- Tuesday 19 November: 10 am - 1 pm
Feel free to visit us at the Whangamatā Service Centre, 620 Port Road, during any of the above time slots for more information. No appointment is needed!
Find out more here
Buffalo Beach road works – Reduced speed and pedestrian diversion
Traffic management measures will be in place on Whitianga’s Buffalo Beach Rd from Monday 11 November as work begins on extending the beach’s rock wall.
The rock wall will be extended by about 30 metres to help restore a section of beach and reserve washed away in Cyclone Gabrielle.
The existing 50km/h speed limit will be reduced to 30km/h near Halligan Rd while work is being carried out.
Pedestrians will be diverted across the road during this time as there will be heavy machinery and trucks access the site.
The work is expected to be completed before the busy summer season.
See more here
Relief to our ratepayers expected from grant for new Whitianga RTS
Ratepayers in our district will benefit from significant cost savings following a $5.9 million grant from the Ministry for the Environment’s Waste Minimisation Fund (WMF) to support the development of the new Whitianga Refuse and Recycling Transfer Station (RTS).
Our Council budgeted $11.5 million for the RTS project as part of our 2024-2034 Long Term Plan (LTP). The WMF grant will reduce the overall project cost by half, resulting in nearly $6 million in savings for ratepayers.
Construction is expected to begin in April with the project completed by June 2026.
The new facility will help meet the growing needs of Whitianga and the existing RTS site will remain operating until then.
Read more here
Thames RTS early closure Monday
Thames Refuse and Recycling Transfer Station (RTS) will close at 2pm on Monday 11 November, instead of the usual 5.30pm, so that necessary repairs can take place. Apologies for any inconvenience.
Soft plastics recycling scheme
A total of 4.74 tonnes of soft plastics was diverted from landfill throughout the district from July 2024 to September 2024, thanks to the Packaging Forum’s recycling scheme which turns them into fence posts or building materials.
Since our Council’s Solid Waste team has been working with the Packaging Forum in mid 2022, over 29 tonnes of soft plastics have been recycled through community bins and participating retailers in Thames, Tairua, Coromandel Town, Whangamatā and Whitianga.
More here
Kennedy Bay Road update
Our contractors, Ventia NZ, are carrying out stabilising and patch repairs at various locations along Kennedy Bay Road, starting Wednesday 13 November 2024, between 9am–3pm.
- Stop/go traffic management will be in place and the road will be closed for 50 minutes each hour, then re-opened for 10 minutes on the hour.
- This work should only take the day to complete (subject to weather conditions).
- If you're travelling this route, drive with care and expect delays.
We also have several other roading projects underway. Be sure to check out the latest updates here so you can plan your travel around our district with ease.
Network Resealing Programme
Work has started on our Council's district-wide road resealing programme.
The contractor will distribute letters to all affected households before urban streets are resurfaced. These letters will provide all the additional information required including the planned date of surfacing. In addition to letter drops, updates of the work programme will be provided on our web page tcdc.govt.nz/roads and on our social media.
Please park vehicles off the road on the day of the works to allow the full width of the road to be surfaced. Any vehicles parked on the road following notification may be towed to a nearby towing yard at the owner’s expense. While the work is being undertaken traffic will be controlled by traffic controllers and temporary traffic management. We will attempt to minimise inconvenience to motorists. However, we ask the motorists are patient and follow the directions of traffic controllers and temporary speed restriction signs.
Following completion of the surfacing, there will be speed restrictions in place and loose chip on the road surface in the early stages after the work. Where necessary, sites will be re-swept at later dates.
Our Economic Development Quarterly Newsletter
Our economic development quarterly update is packed with the latest on our economic scene and a recap of what’s been happening around the district.
With 2024 nearly wrapped up, we still have a full schedule of opportunities before the busy Christmas season hits. Dive in to catch up on recent highlights and see what’s coming up next.
Read here
What's on in the Coromandel
The Coromandel Artbeat Spring Festival is picking up steam this weekend as the ninth annual “Steampunk the Thames” goes down the rabbit hole this weekend. Dust down your Steampunk rags, buckle up and head full steam ahead into a weekend of wild, wacky fun.This year you can expect the unexpected, with a mash-up of Steampunk magic, Mad Max chaos, and Alice in Wonderland charm, showcasing a whimsical mix of costumes, quirky gadgets, stunning art, and jaw-dropping vehicles. The Gribbling Day parade starts at 11am this Saturday, with a 10.30am muster at the corner of Willoughby and Pollen Street (outside number one shoes). For families, the free “Wonders of Wonderland” event is taking place at Victoria Park on Sunday from 10am to 3pm, or take part in the madcap events including the photography contest, Punk My Ride, Punk My Pet, Tea Duelling, Hobby Horse Racing, Quiz Night, and more.
More upcoming events
ShakeOut 2024 winners
We were excited to join in ShakeOut 2024. It’s a great reminder to review your emergency plans at home, school, and work. Don’t forget to check your grab bag and, if you live near the ocean, practice your tsunami evacuation route.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the drill. Congratulations to our prize winners:
- Whangamatā: Shubham Solanki
- Thames: Tara Codyre
- Home participant: Helena Hough
- Whitianga: Country Kids Whenuakite
Thanks again to everyone who took part in this important practice.
Get ready
Surveys and workshops
Tukua tō reo kia rere | Let your voice fly
If you live, work, or play in the Thames-Coromandel, Hauraki, or Matamata-Piako areas, we want to hear from you about what matters most, to help our community groups and our Council make decisions that matter.
The first 2,000 people to complete the survey will go into the draw to win one of 80 gift cards valued at $25 each – one in every 25 wins.
See more
Do you value our Libraries?
Our District Libraries have teamed up with Public Libraries of New Zealand (PLNZ) to conduct a nationwide survey. This is an opportunity for everyone in New Zealand to share what they value most about public library services and programs. Whether you're a regular visitor or haven’t yet explored what libraries offer, your input matters.
Your feedback will help us showcase the positive impact libraries have on our communities. Here’s your chance to let people know about the impact of libraries on your life.
Take survey
Emergency preparedness workshops
Our Council has partnered with Age Concern Hauraki Coromandel to offer Emergency preparedness workshops.
The workshops held so far have had a great turnout. This initiative aims to educate and support older persons on emergency preparedness and identifies the steps to developing their own emergency plan.
These helpful sessions cover important topics like understanding hazards, how to stay informed and personal preparedness. Participants work through the contents of an emergency plan and how to prepare your own plan.
Don’t miss out - being prepared makes a difference.
Upcoming Workshops:
- 13 November: Pāuanui Hub meeting room, 9:30am
- 13 November: Whitianga, 3:30pm
- 20 November: Whangamatā, 9:30am
- 27 November: Thames, 9:30am
More details
Free basic bike maintenance workshop
Funding HQ
Over 60 Community groups and not-for-profits attended the half-day recovery funded workshops with Funding HQ held around the district this week.
Participants received an update on the current fundraising landscape and were provided with practical tips and strategies for accessing various funding streams.
More here
Important dates to note
Building and planning consent Christmas processing times
Building and planning consent Christmas processing times
We'd like to remind you that both the Building Act 2004 and the Resource Management Act 1991 pause the statutory processing clock over the Christmas and New Year period. This means that from Friday 20 December to Friday 10 January, the processing timeframe of 20 working days will be on hold.
Any Resource or Building Consent applications submitted on or after Friday, 20 December 2024, will only start to be processed on Monday, 13 January 2025, due to the holiday break.
To ensure your consent is processed before Christmas (unless further information is needed, which could pause the clock), we recommend submitting your application before Friday 22 November 2024.
Special licence applications
Special licence applications
Are you planning to hold an event where you want to sell or supply alcohol over the Christmas and New Year period?
Then here are some things you need to know:
- We must receive your application(s) by 13 November 2024.
- Special licence applications must be received at least 20 working days* (preferably more) before your event date.
- For large events it's recommended you apply well in advance of the 20 working days.
- Late applications won’t be accepted.
*Working days don't include public holidays, weekends and the period from 20 December to 15 January inclusive.
If your application is contested (opposed or objected to), it will go to a hearing in front of the District Licensing Committee and any decision about your application will take longer.
Application details here
Need advice? Contact us if you have any questions, email customer.services@tcdc.govt.nz or phone us at 07 8680200.
Job opportunities
Our current job vacancies are:
