Weekly wrap-up: Long weekend events, news from DOC, project updates
Published on 26 January 2024
The latest from Mayor Len
Phew, we’ve made it through the first few weeks back at work and we’re all ready for the extra day of relaxation on this long weekend. I wanted to share some important information and exciting events happening in our beautiful district.
Long weekends are always busy here on the Coromandel. I urge everyone to stay safe on our roads, especially considering the increased traffic we may experience during this time. Weather-wise, it looks like we’re starting the weekend on a balmy note, but there is a possibility of rain on Monday. Be safe driving home and leave a little extra time to account for the conditions.
I'd like to highlight some fantastic events taking place over the long weekend (and one next weekend):
Wings and Wheels
Where and when: Sir Keith Park Memorial Airfield, Thames, Saturday January 27.
This is an exciting display of vintage and classic vehicles, historic military vehicles, warbirds, sport, homebuilt, and microlight aircraft.
Bay Jam: Whitianga, Sunday January 28.
Experience the lively atmosphere with local music, artisanal food, and the charm of Mercury Bay cafes, bars and businesses.
Fishing Competitions
Girls in the Bay
Whitianga, Saturday 27 January
Nauti Girls Fishing Competition
Whangamatā Ocean Sports Club, Sunday February 4
I encourage you all to make the most of the long weekend by heading along to these events and enjoying the diverse offerings our district has to offer.
Wishing you a safe and enjoyable Auckland Anniversary long weekend.
Next phase of Cathedral Cove work programme announced
On 24 January 2024, DOC announced the work it will undertake to determine viable, safe and resilient long-term solutions for visitor access and experience at Coromandel’s Cathedral Cove.
“Our goal is to reopen the track – but it must be done safely and in a durable and pragmatic way that lasts. Short-term solutions which do not offer an experience resilient to climate change are not viable as far as we’re concerned – we need to invest sensibly,” says DOC’s Regional Operations Director Tinaka Mearns.
The work programme includes six months of land stability monitoring, community engagement and iwi consultation:
• DOC will monitor land stability over a 6-month period. This will help to better understand landslide and rockfall frequency, and to identify land areas where the track could be rerouted.
• Between February to April 2024, DOC will engage with the community and consult with local iwi on preferred options.
Community engagement will help DOC understand people’s attitudes towards the preferred options and the likelihood of success.
DOC will gather feedback using three separate surveys of visitors, residents and businesses. The visitor survey will be undertaken from 27 January to mid-February. It is a short questionnaire for people who have visited Cathedral Cove.
DOC will provide more information on local engagement and feedback opportunities from February.
New bus stops for Coromandel Town-Thames Connector (from 7 February)
We’re pleased to share that five new stops have been confirmed for the Coromandel Town-Thames Connector service. These will be signposted and in use from Wednesday February 7 2024. They are as follows:
New stops
• Te Puru: Corner of Thames Coast Road and Aputa Avenue.
• Waiomu Reserve
• Tapu Reserve
• Te Mata Point Reserve
• Manaia: Parking bays at Te Wharekura o Manaia (off Goldfields Road).
Existing stops
• Thames bus stop: 200 Mary Street, outside the Civic Centre
• Coromandel Town: Woollams Avenue carpark
The service runs Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays (see the full schedule below). Tickets are free, but booking is essential. The trial will run until Monday 18 March 2024.
The vans hold up to 11 passengers, so please make sure to book your place ahead of time. To book, please text the correct provider shown on the schedule below. Please include your name, the service time and the town you are being picked up from.
Te Kooti Whenua Māori: Information Seminar
Join us for a second informative session as part of the Māori Land Court Seminar programme with Maria Graham (Pae Manawa, Waikato Maniapoto, Te Kooti Whenua Māori).
Tuesday 20 February 2024: 9.30am–12.30pm
Whenua Māori: Ahu Whenua Trusts and Trust Applications
Venue: Council Chambers, Thames-Coromandel District Council, 515 Mackay Street, Thames
The objectives of these seminars are to:
1. Build understanding of Māori Land Court process.
2. Review an application pathway and requirements.
3. Demonstrate online tools - website and Pātaka Whenua
Supporting information, including application forms and MLC factsheets, will also be available.
To register, please contact Council:
Phone: 07 868 0200
Email: customer.services@tcdc.govt.nz
General Court enquiries to can be sent to mlctewaharoa@justice.govt.nz.
Māori Land Court fact sheets are available from the counter at our Thames Council office. Information sheets available include:
• Māori Land Court Land Trusts
• Trustees Duties
• Transferring Māori Land Shares
• Māori Reservations
• Title Improvements
• Applications
• Māori Land Court Successions
• Dispute Resolution Service
Opportunities at our Council
Our current job vacancies are:
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.
Rubbish and recycling news
Kerbside collections as normal next week
A reminder that kerbside collections will be unaffected by Monday’s public holiday. Our contractors Waste Management will continue collections as planned on Monday 29 January and for the rest of the week. There will be no alterations to collection days.
If you’re unsure of your collection day, please check your calendar at www.tcdc.govt.nz/summerkerbside (for all areas except Thames & Surrounds and Thames Rural South). For all those areas around Thames, please find your calendar at www.tcdc.govt.nz/bindays.
Our contractors will also continue collections on Waitangi Day and there will be changes to collections for the whole of Waitangi week.
National kerbside recycling rules
You may have seen news about the latest national kerbside recycling changes which come into force from 1 February. They’ll make it simpler and easier to recycle wherever you are in the country – all the rules will be the same.
The good news for you is that the changes we introduced to kerbside collections in September 2023 mean that our district already meets these national standards. When you visit other areas, the rules will be the same – for example, a key rule is that only plastics 1, 2 and 5 can be recycled.
For the full list of recycling rules visit www.tcdc.govt.nz/mixed-recycling-bin
According to the Ministry for the Environment, standardising the materials collected across the country will improve the clarity and effectiveness of kerbside collections. This will reduce confusion about what can and cannot be recycled at the kerbside.
Soft plastics success
Love the environment – keen to cut down plastic? It seems that it’s a resounding ‘Yes’ from our district.
In the 16 months since the new soft plastics recycling scheme was introduced in our district in partnership with the Packaging Forum in mid-2022, our district has diverted 15 tonnes of soft plastics from landfill. Great work.
And just to make that amount clearer – it’s the weight of about three elephants.
Soft plastic is a lightweight and flexible material used to protect and preserve our food and groceries and other products. However, if it is not collected responsibly it ends up in landfill. The Soft Plastic Recycling Scheme collects our soft plastic to be recycled in New Zealand.
Where does the soft plastics go?
The Packaging Forum works with companies such as Future Post and saveBOARD to turn soft plastics into useful products, such as fenceposts, garden frames and building materials. These are great examples of Kiwi ingenuity at work.
Where can I drop off my soft plastics?
Thames
Coromandel Town
Whangamatā
Whitianga
Tairua
Remember, wash the plastic so it’s clean and follow the guidelines of what we types of soft plastic can be collected.
Plastic recycling bins will take:
✓ soft plastic bags that have been used in packaging for bread, rice, pasta, frozen food, fruit and veges, toilet paper, kitchen towels, nappies, sanitary products, newspapers etc.
✓ clean cling film (LDPE or resin 4)
✓ cereal box liners
✓ wrappers for chocolate, muesli bars and biscuits
✓ light foil bags from coffee and tea products, chips and confectionery
✓ Bubble wrap and large sheets of plastic cut into A3 size
✓ courier packaging
✓ dry dog food bags
✓ netting citrus bags
✓ garden potting mix bags
✓ ice pack bags (empty and dry)
✓ polyethylene and reusable polypropylene bags
The bins don’t collect:
X degradable, compostable, or biodegradable bags
X rigid plastics (containers)
X bags which are contaminated with food or liquid
X PVC plastic wrap
X biscuit or meat trays
X cellophane
X coffee cups
X food or drinks
X glass, cans and plastic bottles
X general rubbish
Work due to start on Porritt Park redevelopment
Work is due to start on Wednesday 7 February on the redevelopment of Thames’ Porritt Park, an exciting new project to upgrade play equipment.
The equipment for the centre piece for the playground is a bespoke designed boat, climbing tower and lookout.
Construction is scheduled to last three months, finishing in May 2024. During this time the park will be closed to the public until May 2024. However, the toilets will remain open to the public, except for occasional closures while vital work takes place.
The project has been made possible by a significant donation from a philanthropic couple. Community fundraising towards a target of $500,000 is still underway. To contribute, please email porrittparkproject@gmail.com or drop a donation into the collection jar on reception at Thames Council offices.
Kōpū Marine Precinct
Work is underway in the final 3-4 months of the project, in time for a May 2024 opening.
Heron Construction recommenced infrastructure works on 8 January.
Fulton Hogan restarted on site on 22 January, to work on the excavation of service trenches next to the stopbank and setting out the kerbs for the footpath along King Steet.
All wharf and wharf fender piles have been installed for the commercial wharf, along with the headstocks and Unispan concrete panels to the wharf’s T-head. The steel for the concrete deck slab is currently being placed. The deck is scheduled to be poured in three stages, for completion in early February.
The piling barge has relocated near the existing bulk freight slipway and is currently installing two large fender piles to assist with the manoeuvrability of the Kapua barge.
The commercial slipway concrete slab was poured in two sections, before Christmas. The dismantling of the cofferdam is underway and Is due to be fully removed in early February. Once removed, armour rock will be placed to tie the rock revetment into the new ramp and the catwalk will be installed.
Whitianga, Wednesday 31 January from 10am-2pm
As part of some scheduled work, Veolia contractors on, will be shutting down the water supply at:
- Centennial Drive, numbers 19–49 and 40–58
- Puriri Place numbers 1–14
- Pōhutukawa Grove numbers 1–15
Whangamatā (see dates below)
All of Short Road, Ocean Road (200 to 330) and Beverley Terrace (101 to 229).
Temporary practice shutdown
Tuesday 30 January 2024, 2pm to 3pm.
Full shutdown to complete planned works
Thursday 1 February 2024, 10am to 3pm.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. Every effort will be made to restore your service as soon as possible.
Adoptable dogs
Dogs for adoption
Minnie is a male about 8/9 months old. He's very sweet and loves cuddles and attention.
Sonic and Kunckes are two fun-loving labrador brothers who are looking for a permanent home. They're about 7/8 months and love being active. They also love pats and cuddles.
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.
Please note that some people may not be acceptable for adoptions and that we reserve the right to make decisions on the most suitable homes for any dogs available for adoption.
If your adoption is successful, you will be required to register and microchip the dog prior to taking it home.
