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SWDC operations at Alert Level 3

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Released: 2.10pm, Tuesday 31 August 2021

Following the announcement to move to Alert Level 3 from 11.59pm on Tuesday 31 August 2021, Council staff are putting the following in place regarding its services and activities, in accordance with Central Government guidelines, resources, capacity and where appropriate hygiene and social distancing can be maintained.

This media statement outlines Council activities at Alert Level 3 (AL3).

COUNCIL OFFICES

  • Offices in Tokoroa, Putāruru, The Dog in Tīrau remain closed during Alert Level 3. The majority of staff will continue to work remotely.
  • Face masks are mandatory in public places. You must wear a face covering if you are a customer or an employee involving customer contact at a business or service operating at AL3.
  • Council Meetings and public engagement to be held remotely.

CIVIL DEFENCE
A small number of Council staff continue to support the lead agencies MSD, MBIE and Health through the COVID-19 situation.

WASTE FACILITIES

  • The Transfer Stations in Tokoroa and Putāruru will be OPEN as per normal hours* WITH contactless payment.
    • Entry may be limited. Expect delays. AL3 guidelines apply. Scan/contact trace. Maintain social distancing. Wear face coverings.
    • Adhere to guidance on the ground from the operators of the site. Be patient. Be kind.
  • The recycling drop off zones at the Transfer Stations will be OPEN as per normal hours*. PLEASE adhere to any directives from the operator of the site and AL3 guidelines. Scan/contact trace. Maintain social distancing. Wear face coverings.
  • Urban kerbside collection
    • Rubbish AND all recycling will be collected kerbside from Alert Level 3 (ie, Wednesday 1 September).
    • Bags and crates (as normal) for the remainder of THIS week (ie, Wed 1, Thurs 2 and Fri 3 September).
    • FROM MONDAY 6 SEPTEMBER, ONLY put your new WHEELIE BINS and GLASS ONLY crates at the kerbside. DO NOT put green bags kerbside, they cannot be collected (different truck).
    • Green bags can be dropped at the Transfer Stations for free until 30 September. Make sure you use all your green bags by then. Got some left? Have a spring clean! From 1 October there will be a charge on green bags.
  • Rural residents
    • The Transfer Stations are open at AL3 (ie, from Wednesday 1 September), normal hours*. Please NO LONGER drop bags kerbside in the urban area. Take to the Transfer Stations. Use green Council bags or non-green bags purchased from retailers.
      • IF green bag, drop off is free until 30 September. Use all your green bags by then. From 1 October there will be a charge on green bags.
      • IF non-green bag, minimal charge at the transfer stations will apply. It’s similar to what you pay for the green bag at the retailer. The only difference is where you pay this cost– at the retailer (green bag purchase) OR at the transfer stations (non-green bag charge).
    • From MONDAY 6 SEPTEMBER, urban areas will be on wheelie bins for RUBBISH. DO NOT drop green bags in the urban areas as they can’t be collected.

* Tokoroa – Tuesday to Saturday 9am - 4pm, Sunday 9am to 5pm
* Putāruru - Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday 9am - 4pm

OTHER FACILITIES

  • Libraries, pools and the Events Centre remain closed, but some maintenance work may occur, along with preparation work ready for opening when we can.
  • Community halls remain closed, however capital works may occur.
  • Playgrounds, skateparks, fitness stations, bbqs and drinking fountains remain off limits. COVID-19 can remain on surfaces for some time.
  • Ground maintenance activities will resume within all parks, sportsgrounds and cemeteries, commencing with mowing.
  • Local sportsgrounds, urban and esplanade reserves are open for exercise. Playing fields will remain closed to sports teams due to gathering and social distancing restrictions. Please adhere to COVID-19 restrictions regarding hygiene and physical distancing.
  • Rural reserves remain closed to the public, with gates locked and toilets and other facilities closed. Our contractors will resume some maintenance activity under AL3 guidelines.
  • Te Waihou Walkway remains closed because the required two metre physical distancing is not possible on the full length of the track.
  • Cemeteries are now open to the public within the district. Our contractor will continue to undertake sexton duties including pallbearing when required and ground maintenance operations. Gatherings of up to ten (10) people at a time only for wedding services, funerals and tangihanga. Wedding receptions and other celebrations are not allowed. Consumption of food/drink not permitted. Workplaces, education facilities, public transport and supermarkets are not considered gatherings.
  • Only the urban toilets in The Dog, Putāruru Main St and Leith Place in Tokoroa are open under AL3. This is to assist truck drivers on their essential travel. All other toilets remain closed.

INFRASTRUCTURE ASSETS

  • Water, wastewater and stormwater continues as normal at all alert levels.
  • Roading maintenance, operations and improvements will occur, provided contractors are able to comply with government guideline on social distancing. There must be no personal interaction between contractors and general public.
  • Some scheduled water and wastewater capital projects will continue under AL3. Staff and contractors may be out and about more in this regard. We have the necessary safe working procedures in place.
  • Urgent tree assessment and maintenance will continue as required within safe working procedures.
  • Essential Council housing maintenance will continue, with capital work on empty units permitted, within protocols.

REGULATORY

  • Inspections for consented building work will resume with the correct PPE, distancing and signing in at site, remote electronic processing of consents will continue along with the certification of existing building consents.
  • Resource consent processing continues remotely.
  • Food Act inspections and Sale and Supply of Alcohol monitoring if requested by business premise will resume within the necessary hygiene restrictions.
  • Animal Control and Compliance operates at all Alert Levels, within the necessary hygiene requirements.

URBAN CONNECTOR
Waikato Regional Council’s Public Transport unit has decided that the current town circuit in Tokoroa (Urban Connector) and the trip between Mangakino and Tokoroa will continue the same as in Alert Level 4. Everyone must wear a face mask/covering (medical and age exemptions do apply), keep social distancing and maintain contact tracing whilst using the service. UPDATE - ONLY the Tokoroa town circuit is running.

ENDS. Words: 999

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