WWU: The 10th anniversary special edition of Our Coromandel Magazine
Published on 11 November 2022
Our Coromandel Magazine
The 10th anniversary special edition of "Our Coromandel Magazine" is out now.
Check out our new Mayor, Len Salt, and the new and returning elected members from the 2022 local elections. Plus, a look back at the last 10 years, what's on for the summer of 2022-23, and a round-up of Council projects and activities.
We're distributing hard copies to our Council service centres, our District Libraries and visitor information centres around the district, so if you live in the Coromandel come by and pick one up. We post copies directly to our ratepayers who don't live in the district, so they can find out what they're missing by not living here.
The latest with our Mayor Len
Photo: As part of the Mayors Taskforce for Jobs, our Mayor Len Salt joined Hauraki District Council Mayor Toby Adams on Tuesday, to present certificates to local Industry Training Organisation graduates. More than 30 people received certificates in business-related fields ranging from health and wellbeing to cookery, accommodation, automotive engineering, electricity supply, business and agriculture.
"I would like to congratulate our local Industry Training Organisation Graduates this week and thank our communities who got behind Gumboot Friday last week, including the family fun day in Whitianga and Rangithai Ora - Hauraki who held the 24 Hour Walk-a-thon at Rhodes Park (Thames). They’re still raising money for I AM HOPE this weekend at Steampunk the Thames markets.
"Also, it’s fantastic Waka Kotahi have started repairs on Hikuai Bridge between Tairua and Pāunaui. I received some feedback from road users that the signage wasn’t very helpful. I passed this on to Waka Kotahi who have put up extra signage to help people plan their journeys. This will also be taken into consideration with future road works." - len.salt@tcdc.govt.nz
Wet, windy and wild weather
We've had heavy rain through the day that has caused some flooding and brought the odd tree down.
The MetService Heavy Rain Warning for the Coromandel is valid until 9pm this evening, Friday 11 November. Please be careful if you're out and about.
See the latest weather and roading updates here.
Find the adaptation pathway for a particular stretch of coast
The Thames-Coromandel Coastal Adaptation Pathways iReport shows the strategies and pathways for coastal hazards and projected sea level rises for your area. Watch the video below for handy tips on how to best navigate the iReport.
Waikato Sport and Active Recreation Awards
Congratulations to Janet Mischewski (Head coach at Thames Gymsports), Ride Coromandel Bike Park - Spirit of Coromandel Trust, and Whitianga Skate School who are finalists in the 2022 Waikato Sport and Active Recreation Awards.
They’ve been invited to the Let's Move Waikato event on Thursday 26 January 2023 where the winners will be announced.
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.
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 15 November 2022.
- 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.
Need advice? Contact us if you have any questions, email customer.services@tcdc.govt.nz or phone us at 07 8680200.
Have your say
Tairua Transfer Station - Work on sealing the access road to Tairua Refuse Transfer station is taking place on Monday 14 November (weather dependent). Users may face some delays in accessing the site, with traffic management in place. We ask for your patience and cooperation.
Onepoto Reserve, Wharekaho - Repair work on the path on the reserve will start in the next couple of weeks. The reserve will be closed during this time and signage is already in place.
Tree work in Flaxmill Bay - Arborists begun work this week to try to save two Pohutukawa in Flaxmill Bay. Dead wood will be removed to try to enhance new growth. A third Pohutukawa is too far gone to save and will be removed.
Hoggin Path, Whitianga - Repair work on the Hoggin Path in Whitianga has been delayed until Tuesday 22 November. The areas being worked on will be fenced off with signage in place.
Jacob's Ladder, Thames - Weather also delayed this week's planned repainting of Jacob's Ladder walkway, so the path remains open. We'll be letting you know when we can reschedule with our helpers from Thames South Primary School.
Matarangi tree vandalism - Matarangi Village Green by the Kenwood Drive playground was ringbarked by vandals about two weeks ago. We have since carried out remedial work to try to save the tree. We encourage anyone with information on this vandalism to contact us and to keep an eye out if anyone is attempting to continue poisoning the tree.
New Whitianga Refuse Transfer Station
The impact of COVID-19 lockdowns, bad winter weather and supply chain disruptions have delayed progress at the site, on Moewai Road.
The refuse compactor, the two weighbridges, number-plate recognition system for the weighbridges and bins for the recycling areas are due on site this month. The site has been cleared for construction, above- and below-ground surveys completed, and the existing stormwater drain has been cleared. Work on the water services will start this month and the office building will be constructed in the new year - tcdc.govt.nz/mbrts.
Sherriff Block earthworks progress
A very wet winter slowed movement on the filling work taking place at the recreation zone development at the Sherriff Block, 90 Moewai Road, Whitianga.
The level of the land is being raised using surplus fill from the Waterways development and stormwater infrastructure put in place to ready the site for long-term use. An outdoor arena is being constructed and our Council has signed a contract with Greenstone Events to have the site in the future as the venue for their Summer Concert events. The 2023 concert is at the Waterways site, not at Sherriff Block, on Sunday 5 February instead of the usual Auckland Anniversary long weekend. There is potential at the Sherriff Block site for equestrian use, outdoor entertainment area (for markets, festivals, fairs, circuses, competitions and more) and other outdoor activities.
Local road works:
Albert Street, Coromandel Town - Due to rising water levels and concerns around the stability of both the existing bridge and road, Albert Street bridge will be closed from 3pm today, Friday 11 November, until Monday 14 November, morning. The existing bridge and temporary access will then be assessed. Provided the bridge is safe for use, there will be a period on Monday morning where the contractor will assist residents before the bridge is closed for the planned replacement works from the 14 – 24 November. The temporary footbridge will remain open for emergency pedestrian use. Please be cautious.
Colville Road – Work is limited on site this week due to concrete curing. The retaining wall project on Colville Rd, 1km East of Waitete Bay Road, is progressing well and expected to be finished early December. Speed will be restricted with stop/go traffic management in place.
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.
What's on in the Coromandel?
Steampunk The Thames is underway. The annual festival celebrates Thames’ own blend of art, heritage and culture; inspires and stimulates local talent; showcases local art and creativity and attracts visitors. Join in the festivities.
For the purpose of events on Saturday 12 November, the following road closures will be in place:
- Closure on Pollen Street between the intersections at Willoughby Street and Cochrane Street between 8.30am and 1.00pm
- Closure of Pahau Street between the intersections of Pollen Street and Mackay Street between 9.30am and 3.00pm
More upcoming events here
Upcoming meetings & highlights
Our Council held its first full meeting of the electoral triennium this week. On the agenda was funding for the Tairua Skatepark, where our Council decided unanimously to fund the $567,000 cost increase from the Tairua-Pāuanui Land Subdivision Reserves account, which means there will be no rating impact. This account can only be used to fund projects to enhance reserves in the Tairua-Pāuanui area, such as the skatepark project. Project costs have risen due to cost escalations in building materials and because of enhancements that will benefit all users of Cory Park Domain. Find out more in the meeting agenda here.
The inaugural Community Board meetings will be held over the next fortnight.
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.
Find out more and read agendas here.
Work with us
Click here to view our job vacancies.