Funding boost secured and more important updates in our weekly wrap-up
Published on 16 June 2023
Citizenship Ceremony in Thames.
The latest from Mayor Len
We're expecting to face next summer with SH25A remaining closed, which is why we’ve been pushing so hard for support for our hard-pressed business sector and our communities most impacted by the road’s closure. This is the area we can influence, thanks to the huge effort our Council and staff have put into lobbying for more and continued central government support. The $8.1 million already allocated to businesses through the government’s Cyclone Recovery Fund was due to the strength of the contacts and relationships senior Council staff have built up over many years with various Cabinet ministers and government agencies - in particular Kānoa - Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit.
We have an additional $300,000 from this fund that our Council is administering to business associations in each ward of our district. This will support business recovery efforts for the unique needs of each area’s business communities. We know our business community has taken a huge hit since Cyclone Gabrielle, not just financially but from increased mental and emotional stress. We want to encourage people to reach out to agencies, support services and also local business associations to seek help. With money being allocated to local business associations, there will be programmes of support developed to help business owners and their staff get through winter and into the New Year. Further support from the Ministry of Social Development who have brokers on the ground to offer support and solutions has been well received.
Yesterday the Tourism Minister Peeni Henare announced just over $2 million in funding from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment for repairs to storm damage on the Hauraki Rail Trail, a significant visitor drawcard for the wider Coromandel-Hauraki region. This is being topped up to a total of $3.7 million by our Council and Hauraki and Matamata-Piako district councils.
The work being done on the roads is starting to become more visible and will also open up significant opportunities for local businesses as we start to see more construction workers coming through. Businesses may also think about how they can "re-tool" for a different way of doing things, maybe different hours and days of opening to make sure these workers are fed and watered.
On another note, it was with great pleasure that I officiated at the citizenship ceremony in Thames this week, swearing in 16 new citizens who are making a new life here in Aotearoa from as far afield as Slovakia, Ireland, Fiji, Australia, South Africa, India, Sri Lanka, Italy, the Netherlands and the USA. A special thank you to the kapa haka group of Pārāwai School who performed so confidently in welcoming the new citizens.
Joint funding boost secured to revitalise Hauraki Rail Trail
Photo above: Members of Piako Peddlers in orange jackets; Rebecca Jenks – Economic Development HDC; Wati Ngamane – founding board member of the Hauraki Rail Trail Charitable Trust (HRT); Councillor Robyn Sinclair TCDC; Mayor Adrienne Wilcock MPDC; Tourism Minister Peeni Henare; Tim van der Molen MP for Waikato and Jill Taylor of Ngāti Tumutumu and HRT Charitable Trust Board Member.
The Hauraki Rail Trail has secured a total of $3.7m in Government and Council funding to repair and upgrade the cycle network after damage suffered in recent storms.
This week it was announced that the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment will contribute just over $2m towards the project. This is matched by joint funding from Thames-Coromandel, Hauraki, and Matamata-Piako District Councils, which will contribute to the three-year repair project.
The trail suffered severe damage to its surface and stability in this year’s summer storms, with the funding ensuring its recovery and resilience. The Tourism Minister Peeni Henare made the announcement of the funding in Matamata today.
“I am grateful for the support we have from our three District Councils, and central government in working with us to resolve the funding hole we were facing after the storms,” said Diane Drummond, CEO of the Hauraki Rail Trail. “This community asset is of such great importance to our local community, providing both strong economic and health benefits. To see it on its knees in February, was very sad. With our borders now open again, we need to dust off the dirt and get on with the mahi now.”
Minor works are already underway throughout the network, with the project due for completion in 2025.
The major repairs included in the project are:
- Rehabilitation on the trail from Kaiaua to Rays Rest. Relocating the track away from the unstable northern end of Rays Rest.
- Putting in a bypass of the ongoing Waikato Regional Council stopbank works and then relaying the trail.
- Resurfacing and bridge repairs between Thames and Hikutaia.
- Extensive works between Paeroa and Waihi to stabilise and resurface the trail.
- Surface and slump repairs between Paeroa and Te Aroha.
Strong support for the repair project reflects the contribution the 160 km Hauraki Rail Trail makes to the surrounding regions. It is used by 115,000 people each year, many of whom are tourists.
Recent research showed that the Trail has a high return on investment, with visitor spend, business development, job creation and positive health outcomes credited in its contribution to the area.
MetService weather watch
Potentially heavy weather replaces the sunshine for the top of New Zealand today, as a front and low pressure reach Northland later and a Heavy Rain Watch comes into effect for the Coromandel this afternoon.
Further details on this can be found here.
Keep your eyes on MetService for weather updates. Any impacts on our local Council roads we'll post on our Facebook page and our website. Watch Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency Waikato BoP and their website for State Highway updates.
New bylaws come into force
Two updated bylaws come into force on Friday 23 June after being adopted by Council at its May meeting.
Advertising and Signs Bylaw: Manages signs to allow for advertising of businesses, activities and events while ensuring they are not safety hazards or contain objectionable content. Key changes include:
- Banning signs from the area of the road used by vehicles
- Ensuring signs are maintained and do not become dilapidated
- Real estate signs maximum height reduced to 0.9m
- New restrictions on digital and illuminated signs.
Activities in Public Places Bylaw: This bylaw is the main method that the Council seeks to ensure public places are safe, accessible and that damage to public spaces is prevented. It covers activities like busking, outdoor dining on a footpath, damage to public places and Council property. The amended bylaw includes these main changes:
-
Organisers of large-scale assemblies must notify the Council at least two working days prior to the planned date of the assembly.
-
A person can only set off fireworks in a public place if the landowner has given permission, the fireworks display complies with all relevant rules and regulations and is managed by a licensed pyrotechnical technician.
Mentorship to support our arts, culture and heritage sector
Arts, culture and heritage organisations from around the Coromandel are invited to apply for a year-long online training and mentorship programme to build on their fundraising skills.
Our Council and Creative Coromandel will support the members of 15 arts, culture and heritage organisations to participate in the programme, which will be run online by capability building platform Funding HQ.
Expressions of interest close 5pm, Friday 30 June.
See more
Water billing notice
Please ensure all outstanding water accounts across the district are paid before Monday 19 June 2023 to avoid a 10% late payment penalty.
If you need to update your postal address, click here.
The latest from our District libraries
- Looking for funding? Generosity NZ has just arrived at our libraries
- Find out what's on at our three district libraries in Thames, Tairua and Mercury Bay
- The newest DVDs include blockbusters, cult favourites and Oscar nominees
- Take a sneak peek at the upcoming July school holiday programme
Read here
Our latest economic development update
Read here
Together we can protect Kauri
To preserve kauri for generations to come, we need to give them space to grow. That’s why 10 rules have been introduced as part of a National Plan to protect kauri from the pathogen that causes kauri dieback disease. You'll see some new signage across our district with this information.
Learn more
Road Safety Week Collaborative project
Photo above: L-R Mercury Bay Area School students - Lucie Scarle, Meadow Morton and Poppy Richmond with our Eastern Waikato Road Safety Coordinators - MaryAnn Kerr and Ingrid Le Fevre.
Our East Waikato Road Safety Coordinators teamed up with Kaitiaki o Ara (SADD) and local schools to replace aging signs that presented an opportunity to consult and collaborate with key players in the road safety space to come up with a fresher look.
With 10 schools across East Waikato, including Mercury Bay Area School, aging signs presented an opportunity to consult and collaborate with key players in the road safety space to come up with a fresher look.
"The time was right to do something a little different as there is real momentum around road safety," says Ingrid Le Fevre, our Eastern Waikato Road Safety Coordinator. "We deliver the 'Plan B4 U Party' campaign and wanted to include the squiggle people's iconic logo because it is recognisable across East Waikato and associated with the alcohol campaign.”
“Creating new signage meant we had a chance to work with a number of partners resulting in the inclusion of Kaitiaki o Ara, Hauraki, Matamata-Piako, Thames-Coromandel District Councils and Road to Zero logos alongside the school's name. Doing this demonstrated that we have a whole-of-community approach to road safety.
"Also, SADD (now also known as Kaitiaki o Ara - guardians of the road) have had a refresh and we wanted to all work together and be the first to include their new logo on locals signs. It’s important to work with partners to achieve the common goal of Road to Zero. Showcasing this with our updated school signage shows there is an active Kaitiaki o Ara/SADD group and importantly, they are working on road safety projects,” says Ingrid.
“Not one organization can change the culture of road safety in Aotearoa alone," adds Renee Leabourn, Kaitiaki o Ara Programme Delivery Lead. "Kaitiaki o Ara plays its part alongside rangatahi. We are student-led but this is a great example of partner agencies coming together for community benefit and we thank Ingrid for sharing the opportunity to work together in the heart of their community. It’s great to work together for road safety. I grew up in Thames, so being able to come home and work alongside our awesome rangatahi to help them deliver their mahi to their peers is an amazing feeling.”
With the new SADD sign going up at Mercury Bay Area School, it shows that the SADD group and movement is regenerating, spreading awareness and focusing on values such as safe driving practices and lowering the numbers of people who are killed or seriously injured on our roads.
If your East Waikato School wants to set up their own group, contact Renee@SADD.org.nz.
Your views on Create the Vibe
You still have another week to contribute your views on the future of the Create the Vibe space in Mary Street, Thames.
The street has been closed to vehicles for more than two years so the street can be used as a community space.
We’re visiting the space to interview users and there is an online survey you can fill out until Sunday 25 June.
If you know anyone who needs help filling in the survey, please direct them to Thames Library where librarians are on hand to help people access it.
Have your say
What's on in the Coromandel?
Don McGlashan, Mutton Birds mainman, Arts Laureate, international face of Aotearoa songcraft and more recently first time New Zealand Album Chart topper with his latest album Bright November Morning, is set to embark on a tour which includes Tairua on Friday 8 September.
Get your tickets here now.
More events
Neavesville Road, Puriri
Work is underway to repair McLivers Bridge on Neavesville Road damaged in the storms earlier this year. As a result Neavesville Road will be closed until Wednesday 28 June (weather permitting).
More here
NEMA's Cyclone Recovery Unit weekly update
The Government continues to work closely with regions, including ours, affected by recent weather events and our recovery efforts. See the latest summaries from the Ministry for Primary Industries, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and the Waka Kotahi Transport Agency.
Read here
Yello! It's dog rego time
You can now register your new dog or renew an existing registration online.
Don’t hesitate – get your dog registered before 1 August to avoid late payment penalties.
Register now
Dogs looking for new homes
We have three male dogs available for adoption:
1. He loves cuddles and knows some basic commands.
2. A very sweet fun loving dog that wants to be with people.
3. A laid-back, cruisy lad.
See more
Are you local government material? Start your career at Council
We're looking for people with ability and passion to create sustainable change in our community. As one of the largest employers in our district, we offer a diverse range of career opportunities.
Customer Services Representative – Thames Office: We are searching for a confident, motivated customer services star to bring their skills and enthusiasm to a great team delivering customer services in our Thames office. The role sits within the team providing front-of-house, digital and phone communications, and is part of the wider Customer Services team across the district.
Utilities Engineer – Stormwater: If you are a Civil Engineer, have experience in three waters in particular stormwater asset management and service delivery, the ability to develop relationships with a broad range of people we would love you to come and join us.
Senior Emergency Management Officer: We are one of the most active Civil Defence and Emergency Management Districts in New Zealand and in this role, you will be ensuring Council and our communities are well informed, capable, resilient, and ready to respond to declared and undeclared emergencies and Civil Defence responses.
More here
Upcoming Council and Community Board meetings
Our next round of Community Board meetings are underway.
Copies of agendas, reports and minutes are available online or at Council offices by request, two days before the meeting.
View here