Thames-Coromandel Mayor Len Salt is wishing everyone a Happy New Year and looking forward to a happy and prosperous 2024.

"In the last week or so I’ve been out and about, checking in on as many places as I can, including Cooks Beach, Tairua, Whitianga, Hot Water Beach and Hāhei." says Mayor Len.

"I went to Hāhei with the new Conservation Minister Tama Potaka, our Coromandel MP Scott Simpson and representatives from Ngāti Hei and the Department of Conservation.

"We went to one of the vantage points overlooking Cathedra Cove and I have to say the new tracks DOC and Ngāti Hei have come up with as alternatives to the closed walking path to Cathedral Cove are stunning.

"Across the Coromandel our towns are pumping, accommodation is packed, cafes and restaurants are busy. Everything we wanted the summer to be after last year’s challenges."

The mayor says he has also been attending some ratepayer and resident association meetings.

"These tend to be held at this time of year when lots of people are visiting their baches, so I’m seeing people I normally wouldn’t have a chance to. The atmosphere has been positive and constructive."

Len says, on a sad note, there have been several fatalities on roads in the Thames-Coromandel district.

"This is devastating," says Len.

"Please, please, please ease off on the speed and take it easy.  Allow plenty of time to travel and factor in delays due to traffic volumes or drivers unfamiliar with our roads. If you spot a queue behind you, pull over where it’s safe and let people pass."

Additional summer kerbside rubbish/recycling collections

Thames-Coromandel District Council's additional kerbside rubbish and recycling collections for the peak summer period are continuing until Friday February 9.

Areas on the east coast and the north of the Coromandel where visitor numbers are high receive additional services during this period. For Thames Coast & Manaia, and Thames Rural South and Thames & Surrounds the year-round collection schedule remains in effect.

"Our contractor Waste Management’s crews will be collecting on the Auckland Anniversary and Waitangi Day public holidays on Monday 29 January and Tuesday 6 February," says Len. 

There are no delays in collections those weeks because of the public holidays, materials are scheduled to be collected on their usual collection day.

"Due to the high volumes of material being presented for collection, there has been the odd delay. If your bins aren’t emptied on your scheduled day, the crews will get to them the following day."

Check the collection schedule for your area at www.tcdc.govt.nz/summerkerbside.

The council asks that people only put out their bins on the morning of their scheduled collections.

"If you’re visiting and leaving town before your collection day, you can drop off recyclables at any of our seven Refuse and Recycling Transfer Stations for free," says a council spokesperson. 

Rubbish in standard 60L plastic bags costs $5 per bag or $2 for smaller bags like the ones supermarkets used to use.

All the council's transfer stations are open 8:30am-5:30pm during daylight savings. www.tcdc.govt.nz/rts.

After-hours drop-off facilities are available at Matarangi, Tairua, Pāuanui and Whangamatā transfer stations. 

The Tairua and Pāuanui transfer stations now both have Seagull Centre drop-off sites open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 8:30-4pm where reusable items can be dropped for the Seagull Centre in Thames to collect.

Find out more about kerbside services

Thames-Coromandel District Council have organised a ‘summer roadshow’ with their partner organisation, waste educator Kate Fenwick and her team, outside busy shopping areas of key holiday spots between 9-11 January.

The team will answer questions and host activities:

• Tuesday 9 January, 10-11am, Matarangi shops and 2-3pm at Whitianga Plaza.
• Wednesday 10 January, 10-11am Hāhei shops and 2-3pm Tairua Pepe Reserve.
• Thursday 11 January, 10-11am Pāuanui shops (by the playground) and 2-3pm Whangamatā main street, by the giant surfboard.

wastedkate.co.nz/

Water restrictions in effect across the district

There has been heavy rain at times over the past week, making it more challenging to produce drinking water, says a council spokesperson.

The additional dirt and sediments in the streams mean the treatment plants must work harder to produce water, often at lower volumes.

This weather coupled with the influx of people in the townships during summer has resulted in multiple water restrictions across many areas.

Please ensure that you are up to date on any water restrictions in your area by visiting the council's water restrictions webpage, keeping an eye on their social media, and listening to your local radio stations for daily updates.

Current water restrictions

No fires without permits, fireworks ban

Fire and Emergency NZ (FENZ) has declared a Restricted Fire Season for the Coromandel from Wednesday, December 20 until Thursday, February 1 2024.

FENZ has also banned the use of private fireworks within our district during this period. This fireworks ban does not include any already planned and approved public fireworks displays. 

These measures are to help keep our communities safe from wildfire.

• Find out more information and a handy fire type fact sheet at tcdc.govt.nz/fire. 
• For enquires about Fire Permits and Wildfire Safety, please visit checkitsalright.nz.