Creative Communities Scheme opening, project updates and more news

Published on 16 February 2024

The latest from Mayor Len

As we mark the one-year anniversary of Cyclone Gabrielle, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on our journey of recovery and progress. Our district has faced its share of challenges, but through resilience and unity, we have made significant strides forward.

You may have seen me discussing our recovery efforts on One News recently, particularly our focus on building resilience in our roading network. It's a testament to the hard work and dedication of our community that we have been able to bounce back so effectively.

Here at home, we had our first Council meeting of the year held this past Tuesday. One significant item on the agenda was the proposal for the creation of a Community Marae and Wellbeing Centre at 101 Lindsay Rd, Whangamatā. I'm pleased to announce that the Council unanimously resolved to support the establishment of these facilities.

This decision underscores the importance we place on supporting initiatives that benefit our residents and promote shared outcomes for our district.

Waikato Regional Council are seeking input into their draft 2024 Regional Land Transport Plan. The consultation period will run until 4 March 2024. Find out more including the draft document, the supplementary evidence document and the submission portal can be found here.

As we look ahead, I am confident that this year will bring further opportunities for growth and progress. Our Council remains dedicated to serving the needs of our community and ensuring that Thames-Coromandel continues to thrive.

Council meeting highlights 

(L-R: Cllr Gary Gotlieb, Cllr Rekha Giri-Percival, Cllr Peter Revell, Cllr Robyn Sinclair, Cllr and Dep Mayor Terry Walker, Mayor Len Salt, Cllr Martin Rodley, Cllr Deli Connell, Cllr John Morrissey, Cllr John Grant)

Our Council held its first meeting of 2024 this week. Here are the highlights:

• 101 Lindsay Rd, Whangamatā

The public forum was attended by several speakers in support of the potential for a Community Marae and Wellbeing Centre to be established at 101 Lindsay Road in Whangamatā. The ‘101 Lindsay Road Working Group’ have requested to reallocate a portion of land (currently held for a depot) to be set apart for community purposes. The Council received a report from our Council’s Lease and Asset Specialist. The Council voted in support of the 101 Lindsay Road Working Group’s proposal to establish a Community Marae and Wellbeing Hub over part of the land at 101 Lindsay Road, Whangamatā.

They endorsed the report’s recommendation for staff to engage and negotiate with the 101 Lindsay Road Working Group to determine a solution that provides for both a viable depot and Community Marae. Staff will then report back to Council at an upcoming meeting with options for the lease of part of the land at 101 Lindsay Road, Whangamatā that considers the needs of all stakeholders.

• Whispir decision

Whispir is a communication system which sends instant, geo-targeted alerts to cell phones, which can be utilised to share key messaging during emergency scenarios. After consultation with community groups, our Council was part of a project to develop the app’s ability to send alerts to landlines and voicemail services. After exploring and testing this solution, our Emergency Management Unit did not feel the service could be delivered reliably.

The Council resolved to support the Emergency Management Unit’s recommendation to withdraw from the project to bring landline and answering phone capabilities into the Whispir system until the reliability issues are resolved. Part of the reasoning was that copper landlines are likely to have a limited life and the existing national Emergency Mobile Alerts system (which uses the Whispir app platform) is working well. This is the system that our Council used to generate an alert ahead of Cyclone Gabrielle in early February 2023 that Mayor Len Salt was declaring a pre-emptive state of emergency.

• District Plan becoming operative in part

The Council agreed to make the District Plan operative (in part), aside from several provisions that are still being contested. We are working to update our public materials on this.

• Reaffirmation of Māori Contribution to Decision Making Policy

The Policy and Planning staff have reviewed the current Māori Contribution to Decision-Making Policy, concluding that the Policy contains little substantive direction about steps and processes the Council will establish to foster the development of Māori capacity to contribute to Council’s decision-making. Staff have therefore recommended that a new Policy should be developed – however it will not be possible for staff to complete a new policy before 30 June 2024 (when the 2024-2034 LTP must be adopted).

The existing Policy does not prevent the Council from providing opportunities for Māori to contribute to its decision-making processes. Council therefore endorsed the staff recommendation that the current policy was reaffirmed as an interim measure. Staff will then seek to engage with Māori about developing the content of a revised policy, with engagement and input from iwi, at the earliest opportunity.

• Community Grants Policy

Council gave staff the go-ahead to create a new Grants Policy, to be called the ‘Community Grants Policy’. A number of issues with the current Grants Policy have been identified. These include a lack of clarity (in the Policy and in practice) about the types/categories of Council grant funding available.To resolve these and create a clear policy, it was noted it would be most effective to start with a clean slate. The policy would also include a list outlining what Council will and won’t fund.

The development of the policy would include engagement with those receiving grants, Community Boards and the wider public. The current timeline would see public engagement for the new policy in October and November this year, before Council is asked to adopt a new policy in March 2025.  

•Temporary Alcohol Ban

Temporary Alcohol Bans were decided for Whangamatā Beach Hop 2024 and A Taste of Matarangi 2024. Details will be shared in our 'public notices' section.

Sustainability and Community Resilience Committee: Meeting highlights

At its latest meeting on Thursday 8 February, the Sustainability and Community Resilience Committee endorsed our Council's Climate Change Programme Plan. 

This will set out the proposed approach for developing a suite of climate change strategies, plans and actions to enable an integrated, co-ordinated Council response to climate change.

Key steps in the programme plan are to:

• develop a Climate Action Plan that identifies actions, including additional plans, required to implement the strategy develop a Climate Change Risk Assessment develop a Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Plan for Council.

The committee also heard updates on the Mayor's Taskforce for Jobs programme, our Council's Recovery Plan, peak summer events, and economic development. 

Mid-April completion planned for Tairua Skatepark

Construction works continue on-schedule at the Tairua Skatepark after the team started back at work on 22 January, following a well-deserved break.  

An opening date has tentatively been booked in for mid-April this year. This is a tight turn-around that the contractors are working hard to achieve. Landscaping will be completed in June, the best planting period.   

Skate elements like a manual pad, 70% of lower concrete flats, and the skate bowl have now been poured. Other elements such as non-skateable seating, drainage and bike racks have also been installed.  

Over the next few weeks, the team will work to complete concrete pouring, shape ramps and berms and complete paths. 

Creative Communities Scheme set to open

Applications for our Council's Creative Communities Scheme opens next week, with the funding round opening from Monday February 19 to Monday 18 March. 

The scheme, backed by Creative New Zealand, aims to increase participation in the arts, broaden the range and diversity of the arts available to communities and enhance and strengthen the local arts sector.

Funding is awarded to projects rather than people undertaking the project. Your project must meet one or more of the following funding criteria:

• Broad community involvement - The project will create opportunities for local communities to engage with and participate in arts activities.
• Diversity - The project will support the diverse arts and cultural traditions of local communities, enriching and promoting their uniqueness and cultural diversity.
• Young people - The project will enable and encourage young people (under 18 years) to engage with and actively participate in the arts. 

The types of projects or activities that could be funded

• Exhibitions, productions, concerts, festivals, workshops and presentations that offer opportunities for community involvement in the arts.
• Activities that support the traditions and arts of ethnic communities.
• Youth arts events
• Artist-led projects involving local communities
• Materials for arts activities or programmes
• Personnel costs for one-off, short-term projects
• Promotion and publicity of arts activities
• School-based projects that are outside of the school’s normal activities and provide opportunities for community participation or benefits to the wider community are also eligible.

We administer the funding based on decisions made by a Coromandel Arts and Creative Industries Advisory Board (Assessment Panel) made up of representatives from across the Thames-Coromandel District.

Kōpū Marine Precinct build on final stretch 

Heron Construction have returned to site and have removed the cofferdam from around the commercial slipway. 

The commercial wharf is near completion with the concrete decking just poured, the floating pontoon installed and the fendering systems fixed to the fender piles.  The gangway, lights, bollards and other fittings will be installed over the next few weeks. 

Land & Sea Civil have commenced the abutment for the commercial slipway’s catwalk. The catwalk is due to be installed next week. 

Fulton Hogan returned to site and are currently progressing: 

Work is on schedule for a May 2024 opening. 

Submit on Waikato Regional Council's Draft Waikato Regional Land Transport Plan

The draft Waikato Regional Land Transport Plan 2024–2054 (RLTP) is now open for consultation so residents, businesses and community groups can submit feedback to Waikato Regional Council.

The RLTP is updated every three years and it sets out how the Waikato region’s land transport system will develop over the next 30 years.

The Regional Transport Committee, made up of representatives from Waikato’s regional, city and district councils, Waka Kotahi and KiwiRail, develops the plan to create a regional consensus of our priority work and projects.

Waikato Regional Council would like to know your views on a range of questions about the RLTP, including:

• Do you agree with the high-level vision and objectives for land transport in the Waikato region?
• Have the most pressing transport issues facing the region been identified?
• Are the strategic land transport priorities right?
• Will the strategic policy templates in section 3 of the RLTP deliver on the vision and objectives?
• Do the prioritised significant transport activities reflect the strategic transport priorities and outcomes we are seeking for land transport in the Waikato region?

There is a significant sum proposed for the Coromandel's roading network to build resilience to weather events and climate change.

Submissions close at 5pm on Monday, 4 March 2024.

Expressions of interest: Running Thames' visitor services

The current agreement to manage the Thames visitor information service will expire on Sunday 30 June 2024. We’re seeking expressions of interest from anyone who may like to run the service from Monday 1 July this year. 

If you are interested in taking on the visitor information services in Thames, you will need to demonstrate you can provide friendly, reliable customer service, and look for alternative funding streams if you want to deliver more than what is required in our Service Level Agreement.

The following services and information will be required:

• Providing visitors with face-to-face communication.
• Provide visitors with local and district tourism information.
• Providing an area to display posters of upcoming events.
• Providing booking services for local, district and regional accommodation, attractions, activities, tours and local transport.
• Promoting the Thames area and the wider Thames-Coromandel District capitalising on existing communication, marketing and promotional material, along with other relevant channels.
• Support and promote any local initiative that will build on our Council's vision that 'the Coromandel will be the most desirable area of New Zealand in which to live, work and visit'.
• Disseminate local information, including Council information and updates.
• Be available seven days per week during the peak summer period.

The day-to-day management of the visitor information service is the responsibility of the service provider, with our Council providing a set amount of funding through a service level agreement.    

Expressions of Interest close 5pm, Thursday 29 February 2024. If you’d like to chat to us about options or have some other ideas of how to offer the service, please contact Kirstin Scarrott on 07 868 0200 or by email kirstin.scarrott@tcdc.govt.nz.

Careers Roadshow starts next week

Our Council is facilitating a collaborative Careers Roadshow next week, from Monday 19 to Friday 23 February.

We'd love for you to join us at your local roadshow. We’re hosting these to help young people and jobseekers access work and training opportunities, plus career information.

These are being hosted by each of the local secondary schools and will be attended by all senior students, with time allocated each day for the public and local jobseekers to attend.

• Monday 19 February: Whangamatā Area School. 10am–3pm, open to the public 2–3pm.
• Tuesday 20 February: Mercury Bay Area School. Whitianga. 10am–4pm, open to the public 3–4pm.
• Wednesday 21 February: Te Wharekura o Manaia. 10am–2pm, open to the public 1.30–2pm.
• Thursday 22 February: Coromandel Area School. 10am–2pm, open to the public 2–3pm.
• Friday 23 February: Thames Civic Centre. 10am–3pm, open to the public 2–3pm.

Hauraki Family Violence Intervention Network: Free training

The Hauraki Family Violence Intervention Network are offering two free Shine courses to our communities. They have brought Shine trainings to Hauraki before and have had excellent feedback from participants.

Level 1 is designed for anyone who may be interacting with affected people within their own family, workplace, whilst volunteering or working in a social service agency in an admin or front of house position. Level 2 is designed for practitioners already working specifically in this field.

Level 1 – One Day Introductory Training: Responding Effectively to People Experiencing Violence

This is an introductory level training for working and responding appropriately and safely with people experiencing family violence. Understand the complexities, and the impact family violence has on families and the effect on a person’s dignity and wellbeing. Explore entrapment theory, coercive control and resistance and learn how to use the Recognise/Respond/Refer model.
When: Wednesday 6 March 6, 9:30am – 3:30pm.
Where: Grahamstown Hall, 768 Pollen St, Thames
Cost: Free
How to register: Email sally@hfvin.co.nz with name of attendee, their email address, and any dietary requirements.

Level 2 – Foundational Skills: Practical Skills and Tools to Respond Effectively to People Experiencing Violence
Hone your skills and understanding and learn how to provide practical support to people experiencing family violence. Understand the complexity of risk, how to make accurate assessments, and client-led and client-centered interventions. Learn how to develop safe strategies to provide support mechanisms to people and expand your understanding of safety, dignity and wellbeing when working with people impacted by family violence.
When: Thursday 7 March 7, 9:30am – 3:30pm.
Where: Grahamstown Hall, 768 Pollen St, Thames
Cost: Free
How to register: Email sally@hfvin.co.nz with name of attendee, their email address, and any dietary requirements.

On Tuesday 5 March, Enterprise Whangamatā (EW) is hosting a business expo, where you can receive advice from a range of experts. Topics include IT, finances, marketing, legal documentation, procurement and more. 

• Breakfast: Tuesday March 5, 7.30am to 9am, Whangamatā Club restaurant
• From 9am to 1pm, you can book a private complimentary 30 minute one-on-one meetings with any of the six local experts and professionals.
• Numbers are limited, so until February 25 it’s EW members first for $20. Non-member tickets are available after February 25 for $30.

Opportunities at our Council

 We are currently looking for our next Senior Geospatial Application Specialist and Customer Services Representative (Thames).

 At our Council we ensure work-life balance is not just a dream but a reality.

 We offer an array of staff benefits including flexible work arrangements, relocation allowance, free parking, sick leave on commencement of employment and more. 

If we don't currently have a role that suits your skillset, feel free to submit an expression of interest.

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