Our weekly wrap-up: Cabinet Minister Wood visits plus business support

Published on 31 March 2023

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The latest from Mayor Len

The rain has stopped, we are good now right?  

This was the rhetorical question that Waikato Regional Council’s Resilience Team Leader posed at a briefing to Transport and Coromandel Cyclone Recovery Minister Michael Wood on his visit yesterday to our district about the amount of rainfall we’ve had in recent months and its physical impact on the Coromandel. I’ll get back to that question later.

Minister Wood was here to listen to local community leaders about how we need to get through not just the coming months, but years. To this end, the first step is the Minister’s office arranging the formation of a community advisory group, gathering people with mana -  and also know how to get things done. The Minister will be back in Thames in about a month for the next meeting with this group.

In a separate session, people from the business community also met with Minister Wood and outlined how they’ve been affected, what they need, and what they can do to help build long-term resilience to extreme weather and climate change. Stronger roads, more imaginative options to replace transport by road when storms close them, and more robust digital connectivity in our further flung communities, along with reminding visitors the Coromandel is open and accessible (albeit with some slightly longer travel times),  were some of the needs expressed.

There is no Wellington template that will be imposed on the cyclone-hit regions the Minister shared. He’s looking for a locally led response that government can come alongside and support where needed.

He says the government won’t hold back on resources to restore SH25A – it will be reopened, but realistically not by Christmas. Geotech work on the site of the collapse is proceeding and a decision on which of the three rebuild options to take would be made in May. NZTA/Waka Kotahi has given a timeframe of 9-12 months from now for the road to be reopened. In the interim, Minister Wood committed to more support for businesses to get through until the road is restored.

He also told us that legislation will be passed imminently that will allow him to approve significant work like the SH25A restoration without going through the normal RMA processes.  This type of legislation was used after the Christchurch and Kaikoura quakes.

Today the sun is shining – we’re good now right? The sunshine feels good, definitely, but we’re not out of the woods. In that Regional Council presentation I mentioned we heard that our waterway catchments are still saturated and need years of work to get back to some kind of new normal. We’ve had 2.5 metres of rain so far this year – an amount we usually wouldn’t have until September. January’s rainfall was eight times higher than the long-term average, February’s was massive too. There’s been a compounding effects of months of heavier than normal rainfall that have left our very hilly district extremely vulnerable to slips.

The Coromandel community knows all this, but we also know we’re open for business. We want our friends in Auckland and the rest of the country to know it too, and to pay a visit. So encourage your friends and family who don’t have the good fortune to live here, to come for a few days and enjoy the autumn sunshine. I intend to. Tomorrow I’ll be at the Taste of Matarangi Festival to play with the Whitianga Dixieland Band. Hope to see you there! 

Our Road to Recovery

Mayoral Disaster Relief Fund decisions

The first batch of decisions has been made on applications to the Mayoral Disaster Relief Fund for residents, ratepayers, small business owners or not-for-profit organisations who have suffered financial hardship because of damages caused by Cyclone Gabrielle.

A panel consisting of two Council elected members – Mayor Len Salt and Mercury Bay Councillor Rekha Giri-Percival – and one independent community representative – Nikky Fisher from Hauraki Collective – met on Wednesday. The panel reviewed and made a determination on all 207 applications. Additional information and verification are being sought from some applicants. Staff are working through these as quickly as possible.

Successful applications that do not require additional checks or further information are being batched into payments ready for payment before Easter.

Where decisions require further information, the process may take longer. We’re asking applicants to be patient while we follow up on requests for more information. Unsuccessful applicants will also be contacted as soon as practicable.

The Mayoral Disaster Relief Fund was designed to support the needs of affected individuals, families, community organisations, small businesses and marae. In total, the fund had 207 applications; 16 from community organisations; 127 from small business; 64 from individuals/families. 

Cyclone Gabrielle Business Recovery Grants Fund

BRG.png Today, Friday 31 March, is the closing date for applications for the Cyclone Gabrielle Business Recovery Grants Fund.

Our Council has received an initial $1.5 million in funding from the Government to allocate to businesses throughout the district.  

The Ministry for Business Innovation and Employment has responded to the need from the business community with a further $2.5 million, which our Council will distribute for our areas, to help meet the funding gap.

We have received over 400 applications so far, seeking more than $5 million in funding, so the fund is already heavily oversubscribed.

Priority is being given to those businesses who have experienced the most significant and sustained impacts from the storm events and road closures.

Our Independent Advisory Panel met earlier this week and signed off on the first tranche of applications being considered. Once contracts with those successful applicants have been signed, payment will be processed in a matter of days. The Independent Advisory Panel reconvene on Thursday 6 April to go over the next tranche of applications.

When contracts are signed and funds are distributed into bank accounts, the list of recipients and amounts granted will be updated fortnightly on our website. 

Tapu-Coroglen road closure vandalism risks public safety

A reminder that the ongoing closure of Tapu-Coroglen Road is a matter of public safety and any unauthorised movement of traffic management measures or driving through the closed area creates serious risks and will not be tolerated. 

Unfortunately, there have been ongoing acts of vandalism around the closed area of the road (about 10km from Tapu) including moving traffic management systems such as the large concrete barriers (see photo), safety fencing, posts and traffic cones. This vandalism ultimately comes at a cost to the ratepayer. Please report any suspicious behaviour or vandalism by phoning 07 868 0200. 

We understand the impact of the closure and are working to reopen the road as quickly and as safely as possible. The area has been inspected and assessed by geotechnical engineers and is considered unsafe for use by the public at present.  

However, due to the significant public risk, we are unable to open the road in its current condition.

Geotechnical engineers have confirmed that the failure extends beyond the slip face and that there is a high risk of additional failure occurring and extending beyond the current area.

All initial onsite investigations and testing have now been completed, including drilling and survey. Analysis of this data has begun.

Concept plans/repair options are being compiled. The permanent fix will be determined once the options have been assessed.

We are analysing whether a road realignment to enable a temporary single lane route is feasible, and we will announce the outcome of this as soon as possible.

Updates on our Council roads are here.

Funding for local arts groups and projects closing soon

If you are part of a local art group or creative project within the Coromandel, you could qualify for a helping hand with funding from the Creative Communities Scheme.  

Nearly $18,000 is available in this funding round for projects and activities that will take place between 1 May 2023 and 1 May 2024.

Applications close next week, Friday 7 April.

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, and applications must meet one or more of the scheme’s criteria.

FIND OUT MORE

Kerbside recycling collections

We appreciate your understanding and patience for the disruption to recycling services due to our Solid Waste Contractor, Smart Environmental Limited (SEL), driver shortage in their local operations.
 
Normal service will resume on Monday 3 April.

 

VIEW SCHEDULE 

Businesses on our Council reserves

We’re inviting applications for commercial licences for businesses to deliver activities on Council reserves – this is operations such as food trucks, coffee carts, kayak hire and the like. 
 

We manage commercial operations on our reserves to ensure the activities are well run, safe and add to the community and visitor experience on our reserves – especially our seaside ‘crown jewels’. 

We’re taking applications until Friday 21 April 2023.

FIND OUT MORE

Moanataiari residents to consider sea wall options

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A public meeting in Thames this week was well-attended by residents of Moanataiari, who were presented with preliminary options for upgrading the community’s protective sea wall.

Around 130 residents gathered in the Thames Civic Hall where they were updated on the five-year annual inspection and performance review of the Moanataiari Inundation Protection Scheme, or sea wall, conducted by engineering firm Tonkin and Taylor.  

FIND OUT MORE

What's on in the Coromandel?

Join A Taste of Matarangi this Saturday (1 April) for entertainment and activities providing you with a great day of food, drinks and music by the beach. This home-grown local festival gives you the opportunity to sample a selection of fine wines, locally brewed beer and tasty cuisine from more than 40 vendors. The all day line up of musicians is your sound track for a relaxing day with family, catching up with friends and making new ones.
 

Danby Field car park overnight closure

The Danby Field car park in Thames (also called Shoppers’ car park) will be closed overnight from 4pm Sunday 2 April - 12pm Monday 3 April, while it is resealed and repainted. Please note that overnight parking, including freedom camping, will not be permitted during this time.  

At the northern end, eight designated disabled parking spaces will be marked in yellow and blue to allow for better accessibility to Porritt Park playground.  

The playground is about to undergo a transformation to a destination playground, specifically designed to benefit people of all abilities. It will include wheelchair-friendly play equipment and a Changing Places toilet to allow people living with profound disabilities to interact fully with our community, without having to worry about a loo. The new facilities are expected to draw visitors to Thames from a wide catchment area. 

Network resealing programme

Although extensive works are ongoing with the recent storm events, we still need to carry out our Council’s road resurfacing programme to keep up with maintenance on our local roads and ensure the longevity of our network. Different crews are using different equipment, so it doesn’t take away from post-storm road repair work.
 
Works began in early March and are planned to be completed prior to the end of April (weather dependent). The programme extends over all areas of the Thames-Coromandel District.
 
Please ensure all vehicles are parked off the road on the day of the works to allow the full width of the road to be surfaced. Vehicles parked on roads following notification may be towed at the owner’s cost so work can proceed. The planned programme can be found on our website here, however this may change depending on conditions.

Coastal works

Matarangi beach access improvements - On Tuesday 4 April work will start on Matarangi beach accessways that were damaged in recent storm events. Some structures have been removed for health and safety reasons, and soft beach accessways will be reshaped to allow for easier access. Any remaining structures will be monitored.  

Flaxmill Bay and Purangi (Cooks Beach) - The coastal path at Flaxmill Bay, tree removal in Purangi and a large push-up on the backstop wall area also in Purangi are planned to start over the next month (subject to contractor availability).

   

 

 

Have your say on our Annual Plan

We're putting together our Council's budgets, project and operational priorities for the 2023/24 financial year.

We'd love to have your feedback on our proposed Rebuild and Recover Budget for 2023/24 - our Annual Plan for the year.  

HAVE YOUR SAY

Dogs available for adoption

We’ve got three adorable dogs up for adoption.

If you are interested in adopting a dog, please contact us on 07 868 0200. Once your interest is known a Dog Control Officer will be in contact with you to discuss the adoption and carry out the appropriate checks, this may include a visit to your property.

VIEW HERE

Meetings and Community Board updates

Our Tairua-Pāuanui, Whangamatā and Thames Community Board's met this week. 

Thames Community Board meeting highlights  

Thames Community Board acknowledged that now is a challenging time for the district and fully supported the need to carefully consider the impact on ratepayers of expenditure proposed for 2023/24. In its submission on the Annual Plan, the Board supported the deferral of $5.1 million expenditure on the Pollen St infrastructure upgrade until 2024/25, while retaining $250,000 for planning and design of the project in 2023/24. 

The Board also recommended a combination of rates and a Pay as You Throw (PAYT) system for the funding of the new solid waste collection services which start in September 2023. Known as Option 2, this would involve a set rate per ward to cover operational costs of kerbside collection, Refuse Transfer Station services and recycling. In addition, Option 2 includes a pre-paid tag that customers would purchase at local retailers to attach to their rubbish wheelie bin when placed kerbside, to cover the collection and disposal of refuse. 

The majority of the Board voted to recommend retaining $75,000 of contestable grant funding that community groups can apply for once a year and $20,000 of discretionary funds that can be applied for at any time. Those in favour of retaining the funding pointed out that these figures made up less than 0.2% of rates, and community groups needed this support now more than ever. 

Progress is on track for 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. Around 90 per cent of the water main relocation under SH25 has been completed. Work has started on Stage 2 - the extension of stormwater infrastructure from the SH25 intersection to Sawmill Road. Land negotiations are well underway, with valuations issued to 20 properties affected.  

The tender for the work is due to be advertised in April with construction set to begin in September 2023. A resource consent application has been lodged. Board Chair Adrian Catran described the work as “vital for the future development of this area”.  

Tairua- Pāuanui Community Board meeting highlights  

  • Anna Van Limpt tabled a survey prepared by Pāuanui Ratepayers Association, regarding the effects of the closure of SH25A and SH25 on local communities. 

The Board accepted the draft Annual Plan consultation document and confirmed it would make a submission. The Board: 

  • Supports the removal of the contestable grants for one year, and increasing discretionary funding to $28,000 for one year 

  • Recommended that, where possible, stormwater investigation budgets should remain in place  

  • Supports not funding depreciation by $6.7 million for one year as a one-off action to alleviate the rates increase 

  • Supports district retained earnings being reduced but opposed the reduction of the local ward retained earnings  

  • Supports the deferral of Pāunaui skate bowl project 

  • Supports Option 3 of the kerbside pricing options – a PAYT pre-paid system costing $9 including GST per 140L bin empty and a targeted solid waste rate increase (for those in an area of service) of 67 per cent.   

We'll have Whangamatā's Community Board meeting highlights next week. 

Or, you can watch the recording of the meeting on our YouTube channel.  

 

The international visitor market recovering

In the latest update from our tourism provider, Destination Hauraki Coromandel, the visibility of international travellers has been a high point this summer after two very difficult months. Domestic visitor numbers are recovering, although weekends were still down on last year, until this last weekend when Repco Beach Hop attracted many thousands. 

READ MORE

Department of Conservation (DOC) campgrounds remain closed

As Easter and the school holidays approach, remember that DOC campsites in the northern Coromandel and the iconic site at Cathedral Cove are still closed following the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle.  DOC staff need to carry out assessments of facilities before they can be reopened to the public as there are major hazards such as slips, fallen trees and other track damage in the affected areas. 

READ MORE

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.

SEE VACANCIES

Free wellbeing support

If you’re feeling anxious, stressed, overwhelmed, or just tired as a fallout from the storms or from life in general, the Mental Health Foundation, Te Whata Ora and Te Aka Whai Ora, has some free key tips to help you through and support your mental wellbeing. 

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