Our weekly wrap-up: Business impact survey, project updates and more

SH25A potential solutions expected within a fortnight

Photo L-R: Our Chief Executive Aileen Lawrie, Mayor Len Salt, Associate Transport Minister Kiri Allan and Todd Miller (NEMA).

This week Associate Transport Minister Kiri Allan visited the Coromandel with Waka Kotahi/New Zealand Transport Agency  and met with our Mayor Len Salt, Chief Executive Aileen Lawrie, Waka Kotahi and staff to talk about what support can be provided to our district. 

The Minister visited our Emergency Management Operations centre along with the Thames Coast Road and SH25A to gain a better understanding of the slip and the magnitude of work needed to provide a solution. More information will be provided once we get through our next weather event.

The slip now measures around 110 metres across and is highly unstable, and the coming weather event will potentially bring new challenges. 

Speaking with Jo Wilton, Regional Manager of Infrastructure Delivery from Waka Kotahi, the Associate Minister was told that potential solutions are expected to be ready to share with the public within two weeks – however more works needs to be done to get a full picture of works needed.

Early investigations by Waka Kotahi are already underway with drones being used to safely survey the slip without endangering crew at this volatile site. A full geotechnical assessment cannot be undertaken until the site has dried out. 

“The geotechnical investigations will help inform the best option to reinstate the highway. We are exploring a range of options for this site – but we won’t know more until the experts can share their findings.” Ms Wilton says.

“The community can be assured that we have the expertise to get this done. From specialist roading and geotechnical engineers, to our local maintenance crew who will establish a safe access to allow contractors and machinery in.”

Find out more here.

An open letter from Mayor Len to our Coromandel communities

“The last few weeks have been extremely trying for all our communities, trying to get back on their feet after what must seem like an endless trail of events one after another. They have tested our resources severely – not just our Council and our people, but also our business owners and operators.”

Find out about what we’re doing to help with community and business recovery, and check the current driving times for roads in our district here.

More on business recovery

Mayor Len and Coromandel-Colville Councillor John Morrissey paid a welcome visit early this week to meet with Coromandel Town businesses feeling the effects of the recent weather events that have impacted our economy and infrastructure district-wide. 

“With the support of Destination Hauraki-Coromandel, a campaign will be running in the coming weeks to encourage traffic through Thames, along the Thames Coast and up to Coromandel Town to encourage take a break, have a coffee and wander the shops before heading on their journey to the eastern seaboard,” says Mayor Len. “The campaign will also promote the State Highway 25 southern entrance from Waihi through to Whangamatā, and up to Tairua and Pauanui.” Read more here.

Business impact survey

Please take part in this business impact survey to help us pull together information so we can provide evidence and data to central government about the real impacts of the 2023 weather events on our district. This will help us to pull together a business case so we can access assistance and funding packages to support you.

Take the survey here. 

Let's talk rubbish

We want to hear from you about what more we can we be doing to minimise the amount of district waste going to landfill.

We’re developing a proposed action plan over the next six years towards achieving this goal – which is described in the draft Waste Management and Minimisation Plan. We would like your feedback to fine tune the draft plan. Find out more.

Coromandel Arts and Creative Studios

The Coromandel Arts and Creative Industries Strategy was developed in cooperation with our Council and adopted in 2016 and now up for review. Complete the survey before Sunday 12 February here.

The next step is a series of hui around the district to discuss the feedback, gain more, and shape the Arts Strategy for the next five years. Find out more here.

What's on in the Coromandel?

Mercury Bay Art Escape is your chance to visit 40 artists eastern Coromandel, from Matarangi to Hikuai.

The annual artists' open studios takes place in the first two weekends of March each year, with a rich and eclectic mix of art mediums, providing a unique opportunity to visit and chat with member artists in their studios, see their work in progress, find what inspires them and what new art they are working on and buy direct from their studio. More upcoming events.

Kōpū Marine and Business Precinct

It’s full steam ahead on building the infrastructure for the new marine and business facility at Kōpū, in spite of interruptions caused by the severe weather. 

The steel has been delivered on site to Kōpū so the marine works can start in March. Check out the footage and photos here.

The earthworks and roading, including a new access road – King Street, are on track to be completed by the end of February.

In March the marine contractors will move onto the site to start work on the commercial wharf.

When it’s finished, the facility will consist of:

• an 80m long commercial wharf and floating
• pontoon enabling in-water marine servicing
• and vessel loading; an expanded, unsealed
• haul-out; an upgraded, concrete reinforced slipway; and
• a public boat ramp and car park.

The target date for the opening of the whole precinct is May 2024, creating up to 100 long-term jobs and attracting new business and investment.

Read more on what is coming up for this project.

Tōtara Valley project progresses

Preparatory work has been completed on the first phase on the infrastructure needed to enable a new residential housing development to be built in Totara Valley south of Thames to ease the town’s housing shortage. A stormwater culvert has been built under Ngai ti Maru Highway (SH 25) to reduce the risk of flooding, and a turning bay completed on the highway into Totara Valley Road.

Further road widening and extension of water, wastewater and stormwater services are expected to be completed by the end of 2024 and the tender process is underway. Current landowners have received valuations to review. For more see tcdc.govt.nz/totaravalleyroad.

Taipari Park skate park removal

The skate park facilities are being removed from Taipari Park starting from 20 March 2023 due to a long-standing commitment to return the sacred burial ground it’s built on to local iwi. 

Skaters are advised to use the popular Thames Powerco Skate Park in Porritt Park which was built to replace Taipari Skate Park. Young skaters were involved in the design process.

If you have a younger child who uses the old skatepark and would like to discuss their needs further, please contact our Customer Services Team on customer.services@tcdc.govt.nz or phone 07 868 0200.

Summer kerbside collections end

Our summer period of extra Kerbside rubbish and recycling collections have now finished. We hope you’ve enjoyed them. From Monday 13 February we go back to our normal off-peak schedule of collections. Read more.

Meetings and Community Board updates

Our Community Boards are beginning their first meetings for the year. We will have the highlights for you next week.

See our meetings page for further details and the agenda and minutes closer to the time.

Work with us

Are you ready to change your scene? Our Council is hiring now and we have opportunities for engineers, planners, administrators and more.

Flexible working, fantastic culture and great lifestyle. Job vacancies here.