WWU: Get ready to rock’n’roll for Repco Beach Hop

Published on 18 November 2022

Get ready to rock’n’roll for Repco Beach Hop

Thousands of people with their classic vehicles and retro outfits are starting to pour into our District for the annual Repco Beach Hop event next week (23-27 November).

The schedule for the five-day festival is full of cars, music, culture, fashion, motorbikes and food:

• Wednesday 23 November - Go Waihi Warm Up Party
• Thursday 24 November - Repco Thames Power Cruise
• Friday 25 November - Castrol Edge Thunder Cruise to Onemana
• Saturday 26 November - Grand parade, shows and markets in Whangamatā.
• Sunday 27 November - Final prize giving and Classic Cover Insurance Nostalgia Fair in Whangamatā.

For further details see Repco Beach Hop.

Dogs - We know many pooches also come and enjoy the Hop. A reminder to owners keep your dog on a leash in public places. There are areas you can exercise your dog off-lead, see dog rules here.

Road closures - During Repco Beach Hop there will be several road closures in Whangamatā and Thames. We apologise for any inconvenience and ask for your patience on our roads as traffic delays are likely around the district with large crowds expected. For complete road closure and detour information, see road info here.

24/7 temporary alcohol ban - No alcohol can be consumed in any public place over Repco Beach Hop. The ban is in place from 4pm on Tuesday 22 November to 4am on Monday 28 November. You can get an instant fine of $250 or be arrested if you breach the ban.

Be prepared - While you’re visiting for Repo Beach Hop, take note of our Community Response Plans. For more information on how to stay informed in an emergency while in our District.

Washing your pride and joy - We’re anticipating a huge number of visitors to Whangamatā, which in turn means a large increase in water use in the area.

To help us manage our networks and make sure there is enough water for everyone, we need all residents and visitors to ensure they are conserving water where possible:

• Use a bucket to wash cars and don’t leave the hose running continuously, which wastes water.
• A reminder, Whangamatā is a coastal town, so any cleaning products, detergents etc. used for car washing have a quick and direct path to the ground and the sea via our stormwater network, including road cesspits.
• Please wash your cars on the lawn to soak up the water.

For more water conservation tips visit here.

Drop off your batteries locally

Got lots of used batteries hanging around home? Gather them up and drop them off for recycling at special collection days organised locally on two weekends coming soon.

The Seagull Centre, together with local community groups supported by our Council’s Waste Minimisation fund, has set up collection points at four locations. All types of batteries are accepted. There’s no charge for the service, but they’re asking for donations to cover safe recycling costs.

Globally less than 5 per cent of batteries are recycled. Yet 95 per cent of components can be recycled. Old batteries dumped in landfill can contaminate our soils and waterways, and materials in them can be toxic to humans. They’re also a leading cause of fires in landfill sites and trucks. 

Click to expand.

Domestic soft plastic collection bins now at Tairua Refuse Transfer Station

Soft plastic packaging (eg bread bags and other plastic wrapping you can squeeze into a ball, not rigid plastics) can now be dropped off for free at our Tairua Refuse Transfer Station.

The collection bins here and at other locations in the district are for domestic soft plastics, not commercial quantities of soft plastic packaging. Please dispose of those through a commercial service.

To find out more information and to see other locations go here.

Great feedback on Our Coromandel magazine 2022-23

The 10th anniversary edition of our Council’s annual magazine has been receiving very positive feedback. 

Our Coromandel Magazine was delivered last week to approximately 11,500 property owners who don’t live in the district and copies are available at our Council service centres, District Libraries and info centres for anyone who wants to pick one up.

The magazine summarises what’s been happening at our Council over the last year, what projects have been delivered or are on the go, changes in services, profiles of local artists, a look at outstanding or unusual properties and much more. In the pages you’ll also hear from our new Mayor Len Salt and our new Chief Executive Aileen Lawrie.

This year we’re asking if you want Our Coromandel Magazine to continue. Pick up a copy and let us know what you think. Email communicationsteam@tcdc.govt.nz and share your thoughts and feedback.

The latest with our Mayor Len

Thankfully the weather cleared just in time for Steampunk the Thames over the weekend. Congratulations to the organisers, volunteers and everyone who participated, it was an incredible event.

I also visited the Thames Goldmine Experience which is a brilliant place managed and run by a group of dedicated people. Kudos to all who are involved.

This week I was in Wellington for the Rural and Provincial Sector meeting which is for Mayors in rural and provincial areas to come together and connect on issues. Three Waters was top of discussion (read more below). - len.salt@tcdc.govt.nz

Three Waters Reform

Late last week, the Finance and Expenditure Committee issued its report on the Water Services Entities Bill.

As a result of submissions, the Departmental Report and other advice, the Committee agreed to approximately 130 amendments to the Bill. Given the Bill has 228 clauses (plus schedules), the number of changes to address feedback is substantial and significant.

Our Council will continue discussing the merits before we take a position, and we are also seeking more clarity on details of this latest proposal.

At its April 2022 meeting our Council endorsed the following principles, which we still stand by:

• water and water-related infrastructure assets to remain in local ownership
• local voices to have a place in planning and service delivery  
• assessments about our district to be made on rateable household property numbers, rather than usually resident population
• local determination of the entity boundary that is most appropriate for our district, based on community feedback

For more go here.

Food and drink producers: Register your interest for our Coromandel Food Trail Guide

The 2023 edition of the Coromandel Food Collective’s Food Trail Guide is underway and receiving a fresh new look in preparation for the year ahead. 

Our Council’s popular guide has been a mainstay for local food and beverage producers over the years, helping to promote niche products that are grown or produced on the Coromandel – so if you think your homegrown offerings should be on the menu, now’s the time to get in contact with us.

Economic Development News

The latest economic forecast and business news from our district:

• Seaweed growing pilot benefits Coromandel Harbour
• Construction begins on Kōpū Marine Precinct
• Coromandel hero wins Outdoor Access Champion award
• Hauraki-Coromandel Biking Strategy
• Events season building
• Thames Spatial Plan adopted by Council
• Food and drink producers - Register your interest for our Coromandel Food Trail Guide
• Our Coromandel Magazine out now
• Our economy: An economic forecast by Infometrics
• Our latest economic data

Read more here.

Business sentiment survey

Waikato’s economic development agency Te Waka is asking for business people’s thoughts and experiences to build a picture of the local economy.

Please take a few minutes to fill out their Business Sentiment Survey here.

Important dates

If you want your Resource or Building Consent to be processed before Christmas (barring any further information requests which stops the processing clock) please submit your application prior to Tuesday 22 November 2022.

The statutory processing clock stops over the Christmas and New Year period for both the Building Act 2004 and the Resource Management Act 1991. 

The 20 December to the close of 10 January period is excluded from the 20-working day timeframe. This means that any Building or Resource Consent submitted on or after Tuesday 20 December 2022 will not be processed until Wednesday 11 January 2023 due to the Christmas/New Year break.

You are welcome to contact us if you have concerns about your project or want to discuss ways that we can work better together.

Land Information Memoranda (LIMs)

Anyone wanting to apply for and receive a LIM before Christmas:

• Applications for standard and Commercial must be in by 5 December 2022.
• Applications for Urgent must be in by 15 December 2022.

Any applications arriving after the above specified dates, will be delivered after 11 January 2023.

We will be resuming normal service on 11 January 2023.

Need advice? Email customer.services@tcdc.govt.nz or phone us at 07 868 0200.

Thames Refuse Transfer Station – We will be installing a speed bump on the access road towards the Thames Refuse Transfer Station this Friday (18 November) to improve the safety of our customers and staff. Signs will be put up to warn drivers.

Onepoto Reserve, Wharekaho – Repair work on the path in the reserve will start next week (weather dependent). The reserve will be closed during this time and signage is already in place. 

Hoggin Path, Whitianga – Repair work on the Hoggin Path in Whitianga will start Tuesday 22 November. The areas being worked on will be fenced off with signage in place.

Tairua skatepark community design group meets

Above: Artist’s image of the skatepark that the group will be considering.

Local road works:

Albert Street, Coromandel Town – Due to delays caused by site recovery after the heavy rain on 11 November, and unexpected ground conditions encountered during onsite investigations, the new Albert Street Bridge piling works have taken longer than expected. The new bridge is now planned to open Friday,  25 November, in the afternoon.

After this date, you can expect intermittent road closures, shoulder closures and stop-go traffic management for the remainder of the site works, which should be completed by Friday 9 December (weather permitting). We appreciate your understanding and apologise for the delay.

Colville Road – The retaining wall project on Colville Rd, 1km East of Waitete Bay Road, has been delayed this week due to unforeseen ground conditions that require a change of design. We are working through these issues, however this means the completion date will be slightly pushed out, with completion expected before Christmas. 

State Highway road works  – Waka Kotahi crews are back working across our State Highway 25 and 25A network. Road users should be aware that road conditions can change at any time, whether due to roadworks or weather. 

State Highway speed limit consultation

Waka Kotahi has opened a public consultation on speed limit changes to State Highways, which come under its management.

This consultation is limited to State Highway 25A (Kōpū-Hikuai Road) and school zones on State Highways.

Consultation on the remaining state highways (25 and 26) will be undertaken in the next speed management plan for 2024-27. 

This is a separate consultation to our Council’s survey on speed limits on Council-controlled local roads which took place in August and September.

Find out more here.

What's on in the Coromandel?

The annual Santa and Christmas Parades in Thames, Whitianga and Whangamatā are extending their festivities this year, creating excitement and memories for the young and old, and an afternoon of fun.

Find out more about these and other upcoming events at tcdc.govt.nz/whatson.

Upcoming meetings & highlights 

The inaugural Community Board meetings are being held this month. We'll have a summary for you to read next week.

Members of the public and media are welcome to attend. If there is a report you wish to speak to, you may do so in the public forum of the meeting, but please keep to the time limit of five minutes per speaker.

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