Thank you from our Mayor Len and stay informed with our weekly wrap-up
Published on 24 February 2023
Latest from Mayor Len
We’ve been busy this week working through with the government and relevant agencies about the shape and size of budgets and packages that will help assist our Coromandel communities to recover from the onslaught of storms and build resilience.
Huge thanks to those who have contributed to the Mayoral Fund so far. It’s currently sitting at around $160,000 with donations ranging from $50 to $10,000. I’m blown away by the kindness and generosity of our people and businesses, when everyone is struggling themselves. The deadline to apply for help is 10 March. Decisions around allocation will be made after that.
This week the Government announced a further $1.7 million in funding for Mayoral Relief Funds to be disbursed to impacted communities in affected regions. Included in this announcement was $500,000 specifically for Thames-Coromandel, Matamata-Piako and Hauraki Districts. The final allocation of the amounts between the three districts has yet to be determined. We’ll keep you posted. This funding is on top of an initial contribution of $100,000 to Thames-Coromandel following the late-January flooding. To find out more about our Mayoral Relief Fund click here.
I’m also extremely mindful that there are other areas around the North Island requiring urgent priority following this extreme weather event, and I want to acknowledge the communities and iwi of the Bay of Plenty, Tairāwhiti, Wairoa and Hawke’s Bay, Tararua and Wairarapa districts that are still reeling directly from the impact of this cyclone. The Far North and Kaipara Districts are also still reeling, and Auckland has been hard hit, as we know. Our thoughts are with them even as we deal with our own challenges at home.
In comparison, we have been relatively fortunate. Some of that has been due to the experience and preparation on the part of our Emergency Management team, but the longer-term impacts are still going to be significant.
Our Chief Executive Aileen Lawrie, our Economic Development Team, elected members and I ensured one or more of us attended the Thames, Mercury Bay and Whangamatā Business Association meetings this week. We were able to share where we are at with working on support and assistance, and the feedback from local communities has been extremely valuable.
There was an incredible turnout at all three meetings around the district and we’ll be reflecting back to government and agencies all the feedback we received, voicing the magnitude of economic hurt.
We know our businesses around our district are feeling the catastrophic effect of a major downturn in tourism, not just from four weather events in the first six weeks of 2023, but also the impact of two years of COVID restrictions.
We know our transport routes, for things like managing waste and freight, are severely compromised and will be for many months. We know our communities’ access to health services is fragile. Longer-term, our connectivity and transport links are likely to continue to be disrupted, causing further detrimental impacts.
In our road to recovery, the government announced this week the allocation of not one, but two Ministers, to support our district – Minister Nanaia Mahuta as the cyclone recovery minister for the Waikato, along with Minister Michael Woods with the transport portfolio – taking in the fact our State Highways 25 and 25A are a lifeline for our people, socially and economically.
We hope to have some good news to announce in the coming days, from the requests we have in to Cyclone Recovery Minister Grant Robertson on what support our district will need.
I know there’s rain here and into the weekend, so please continue to stay safe when you’re travelling as there is potential for further slips around our roads.
But the Coromandel is open for business, so please come and support your locals. Read more on this here.
Weather warning
MetService has issued another update on the complex weather system currently across the Coromandel.
While there is no change to previous updates today (read them here) for the northern half of the Peninsula, the Firth of Thames is now in the firing line as well.
Between 9pm tonight and 1am Saturday, up to 30mm/hr of rain is forecast to fall. This coincides with a King High Tide at midnight.
Surface flooding and slips along the Thames Coast road, together with possible road closures on SH25 if the Kauaeranga spillway is triggered, are likely.
Residents along the Thames Coast Road and Thames are urged to check that drains around property are clear and avoid travelling after dark if possible.
State Highway 25A - Full fix may take a year
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency advises that while a solution is still being worked on, it will be around nine to 12 months before State Highway 25A is fully re-opened in the Coromandel.
“There are three main options for reinstating this highway. One - we build a bridge replacing the lost section of road; two – we build a deviation which bypasses the slip site; three – we build a retaining wall and effectively rebuild the road from the ground up,” says Regional Manager of Infrastructure Delivery, Jo Wilton.
“We don’t know which option is most feasible yet. The right solution cannot be established until the geotech work is complete. We know the rebuild must be resilient and as timely as possible. We understand how critical this highway is for Coromandel residents, businesses, and visitors,” Ms Wilton says.
Read more from Waka Kotahi here.
Long vehicles banned from Tapu-Coroglen and 309 Roads
Our Council has introduced new restrictions under its Traffic Control Bylaw - banning vehicles 12.6 metres or longer from The 309 and Tapu-Coroglen roads.
Vehicles longer than 12.6 metres are now prohibited from using The 309 and Tapu-Coroglen Roads unless they are are accessing properties on these roads or carrying out vital work such as emergency transportation or authorised repairs.
Our Council has passed new amendments to the restrictions under its Traffic Control Bylaw banning long vehicles from these two rural routes, following the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle on our roading network.
You can read more including some FAQs on this here.
Clean up in the Coromandel – What you need to know
As road access and essential services are reopening and work underway to repair damage, the focus is turning to recovery for our Council’s Civil Defence teams and contractors.
Refuse Transfer Stations across the district are now open to take rubbish from the clean-up. If you’ve got specific questions about what they can and can’t take, you can contact your local station directly. Kerbside collections have resumed as normal.
Find out more information on the clean up here.
Council submission on the Future for Local Government review
The Council has approved a submission to be lodged on the Review into the Future for Local Government’s Draft Report | He mata whāriki, he matawhānui.
The purpose of the Review is to identify how our system of local democracy and governance needs to evolve over the next 30 years, to improve the wellbeing of New Zealand communities and the environment, and actively embody Te Tiriti partnership.
Find out more here, including a link to our Council’s draft submission.
Cyclone Gabrielle underscores need for next steps in SMP project
A new partnership structure to kickstart the roll-out of action from the Shoreline Management project has been approved by our Council this week.
The three-year shoreline project identified our Coromandel communities’ preferred pathways of action to improve resilience to the effects of climate change.
Individual pathways were prepared for 138 sections of our coastline.
Our Council is now moving to prioritise and implement projects from those pathways.
Read more on this here.
Rates relief in stormy times
Our Council is doing all it can to help property owners whose homes have been badly damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle. Properties that have been deemed uninhabitable (red stickered) are being granted a rates remission.
Usually, we ask home owners to apply for this remission. But in the case of this cyclone, we are automatically granting a rates remission during the period people’s properties are officially marked as uninhabitable.
In addition, we are extending the payment date for the current rates payments for all ratepayers, because of the weather-related obstacles to delivering rates notices and the difficulty for people to find ways to make payments with power and road disruptions. The date from which a late payment penalty will be applied for this instalment is being pushed out from 22 February 2023 to 15 March 2023.
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.
Kōpū Marine Servicing 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.
Thanks for the following local businesses, organisations and suppliers who have been working on the project:
- Fulton Hogan – Waikato-based team
- Kerepehi Transport for test piling operation
- HG Leach engaged to supply quarry materials
- Cirtex engaged to supply geogrid and geotextile materials
- Hydra-Care engaged for hydro-excavation to locate underground services
- Kōpū Engineering for minor truck repairs.
- Avalon Motel used to locally house Fulton Hogan staff
- Local hospitality ie Kōpū Hotel, Kōpū Cafe
- Local Porter Hire branch for plant and equipment hire
- Ngāti Maru for cultural induction and cultural monitoring
- Ngaati Whanaunga for cultural induction and cultural monitoring.
To find out more on this project go to tcdc.govt.nz/kopumarineprecinct.
Beach accessways
Our Council have been assessing damage along the coast, including beach accessways. We understand that these have been compromised at Whangapoua, Matarangi, Wharekaho, Tairua, Pāuanui and Whangamatā (among others).
The impacts of Cyclone Gabrielle has lowered the sand (beach) levels in most of these places, as well as exposing old infrastructure and damaging existing infrastructure. Our primary response is to now engage contractors to remove dangerous debris or infrastructure and reshape accessways where appropriate. There will be some locations outlined above where the sand level is too low at present to reshape access to a shallow slope. As a result, we will wait until the beach levels return (1-2 weeks) until we begin to reshape. This is because in many areas there is not enough landward space to pull back a shallow angle and we would prefer not leave high dune banks either side.
As some accessways are hazardous, we ask that the public refrain from using these until they are fixed. Thank you for your patience.
Royal Billy Point channel, Pāuanui
Boaties, please be aware that the channel to the boat ramp has infilled due to the impacts of Cyclone Gabrielle.
It is recommended that access to the ocean and harbour is done only during mid to high tides. We are waiting on contractor availability in order to clear this and we appreciate your patience during this time.
Our parks and reserves maintenance
We have received requests for service for some of our parks and reserves, however we are still in the recovery phase in assessing damage.
We are trying to get on top of ordinary maintenance amongst the challenge of clean-up operations.
Our contractors have been working extra hours to try to get on top of the growth but some areas are still difficult to access and too wet to mow.
Meetings and Community Board updates
Our Council’s meeting took place on Tuesday 21 February, with debates on our submission to three waters reform and discussions ranging from overlength vehicles, future for local government review, Shoreline Management Plan project and more:
Tararū Cultural Arts Centre to be repainted
The exterior of the Council-owned Tararū Cultural Arts Centre will get a much-needed full strip back and paint now that our Council has resolved to approve an out-of-cycle budget request to meet the higher-than-anticipated cost of the work.
Our Council approved the additional $164,000 required to fund the full $264,000 cost at its meeting this week. The building hasn’t been painted since the early 1990s. The paint is flaking, exposing the wood below, some of which is rotting. The old lead-based paint will be stripped, wood will be replaced, and the whole structure repainted. This will extend the life of this listed category one heritage building that dates back to 1877. Formerly known as Thames North School, it now houses the Thames Society of Arts and Thames Music and Drama. More details here.
Whitianga Water Supply Strategy Project
A study to identify options to secure the long-term supply of drinking water in Whitianga has made good progress. Several alternatives have been identified and work has begun to explore the options in more detail to determine their suitability.
A workshop with our Council staff, the Mercury Bay Community Board, iwi and community stakeholders will be held in the coming months to review the options and move forward from there. See tcdc.govt.nz/whitiangawatersupply for more.
Annual Plan consultation starts soon
We'll soon be talking to you about the setting of our budgets for the next financial year (1 July 2023 - 30 June 2024) as part of our Annual Plan consultation.
Feedback will be sought from 14 March to 10 April, so set aside some time to share your feedback with us.
We’ll be flagging any changes that are significantly different to what we forecast in our Long Term Plan for 2023/24, and asking you to comment.
This will include the financial impact from the recent storm and cyclone damage, as well as requesting your feedback on three different pricing options for our solid waste fee charges. These options encompass both a targeted rate per community board service area, and a pre-paid ‘Pay as You Throw’ tag.
We will deliberate on your submissions at our 17 May meeting, and the final Annual Plan 2023/24 will be adopted at our Council’s meeting on 27 June.
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.
“We have an opportunity with this Plan to develop a strategy to put our Council on the map as a leader, innovator and example to other councils of best practice in waste minimisation,” says our Mayor Len Salt.
“Waste is expensive, so investing now in innovative ways to reduce the amount of waste we all produce can pay big dividends down the line. Please share your innovative ideas about managing waste with us,” says Mayor Len.
Go to tcdc.govt.nz/wmmp to read the draft plan and fill in the short survey.
Coromandel Arts and Creative Studios Strategy Review
Creative Coromandel now have confirmed dates for their hui to to discuss the feedback on the Coromandel Arts and Creative Industries Strategy review.
See their website here.
Flood recovery event
Waikato Hauraki Coromandel Rural Support Trust is running support and information sessions throughout our district over the next few weeks.
Find out what support is available for farmers and growers impacted by the recent floods.
See their Facebook page here for details.
Adult cycle skills
Register now for one of our free cycle skills courses for both bikes and e-bikes.
- Whangamatā – Thursday 2 March
- Thames – Thursday 16 March
There are a limited number of spaces available, booking is essential.
Go to our website here for further details.
Rivers and Roads exhibition
Come and see the works of the two artists behind “Rivers and Roads”, a collaborative exhibition celebrating landscapes at Hauraki House, Kapanga Road, from 10-19 March.
For their third collaboration, artists Diann Cade and Jan Linklater have moved forward with local landscapes and rivers as a starting point for works both large and small, and bright and dark.
The exhibition will open at 5pm on Friday 10 March, then daily from 10am – 4pm until Sunday 19 March.
Further details here.
Dogs in our pound
We have some very sweet dogs, all with their own special personalities, ready to be adopted to a loving home.
If you think you have room in your life for one of these special dogs, see our website here for further details on them and how to get in touch.
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.