SWDC operations at Alert Level 2

Released: Tuesday 7 September 2021, 6pm

At 11.59pm tonight, Tuesday 7 September, all of New Zealand except Auckland, moves to Alert Level 2.

This move means that a number of Council’s facilities, closed under AL3 and 4, can now open. However, this will be under the relevant Alert Level 2 protocols.

This media statement outlines some general Alert Level 2 messaging that differs due to the Delta variant; and the Council specific services and facilities.

GENERAL ALERT LEVEL 2 MESSAGES

• Everyone aged 12 years and over need to contact trace (app or paper) and wear face coverings.
• Face coverings are mandatory for front facing staff.
• Face coverings are required for everyone over 12 when they leave the house. Exemptions apply.
• Social distancing in public places remains at two metres.
• Gatherings once again restricted to a maximum of 100 people in outdoor venues and 50 people in indoor venues.
• Crossing the boundary into Alert Level 4 Auckland is strictly controlled, essential only, passes needed.
• Wash your hands properly and regularly.
• Sneeze and cough into your elbow.
• Stay home if you are sick. Don’t go to work or school. Don’t socialise. Don't come to the Council office or use our public facilities. Contact the Healthline on 0800 358 5453.

COUNCIL SPECIFIC ALERT LEVEL MESSAGES

Our public spaces

• Our front line staff at the offices, i-SITE, libraries and other facilities will be wearing face coverings.
• High contact public areas will be cleaned regularly in accordance with AL2 protocols.
• We prefer EFTPOS and/or credit card payments on Pay Wave. If cash is the only option, there is a procedure that must be followed. Our staff will advise you of this.
• We expect visitors to our public facilities to wear face coverings, sanitise on entry, scan into the facility, maintain social distancing and adhere to ground line markings. If visitors don’t have face coverings, we have some available.
• The Putāruru office and Tokoroa Library spaces are limited to 30 people.
• Concerned about AL2 protocols and behaviours, report to Police on 105 or online at: https://covid19.govt.nz/alert-levels-and-updates/c...

Meetings within Council

Meetings can be held on site. Attendees need to be one metre apart (if all Council staff) or two metres (if includes external people). Contact details (scanning) required for the meeting space.

Site visits and inspections

Site visits and inspections by our various staff, including building, planning, licensing and health etc, will be carried out at AL2, in accordance with protocols.

Pools - open

• Facility limited to 50 people, not including staff.
• Spa pools remain closed during AL2.
• Classes that require physical contact like Learn to Swim are not permitted at AL2.
• Water exercise classes can resume, limited to a maximum of 20 people.
• Alert Level 2 protocols apply – contactless payment, face coverings, social distance of two metres, contact tracing.
• Facility spaces limited to 50 (arena), 40 (Rotary room), 14 (Lions room), 50 (combined rooms)
• Alert Level 2 protocols apply – contactless payment, face coverings, social distance of two metres, contact tracing.
• Alert Level 2 protocols apply – contactless payment preferably, face coverings, social distance of two metres, contact tracing.
• Facility numbers limited to 30 in both the Putāruru library/office and Tokoroa library.
• Toy collections, newspapers and browsing materials are unavailable during L2.
• Justice of the Peace services have been suspended under level 2.
• All on site events and programmes are currently suspended due to distancing requirements and maximum facility numbers.
• Staff will investigate how we might support some of this planned activity online over the coming weeks if L2 drags on.
• Borrowers are welcome to phone our libraries to request a Click and Collect type arrangement if wished.
  APNK WiFI is still available for those with their own devices – we ask people to be mindful of session times due to our facility limits.
  A limited number of library devices will be available for use.
• Opening hours are as per usual.

South Waikato Sport and Events Centre - open

Libraries

Sportsgrounds/sports teams

• Limited to 100 outside, not including referees and officials.
• Any spectators should maintain a two metre physical distance; and wear a face covering.

Parks - available

• Our playgrounds and skate parks are open.
• Toilets, fitness equipment, barbeques and drinking fountains are available.
• Maintain a social distance of two metres.
• Wear face coverings if over 12 years of age.
• Wash or sanitise your hands – and your children’s hands - after using toilets and all apparatus.
• Maintain a social distance of two metres.
• Wear a face covering if over 12 years of age.

Te Waihou, Jim Barnett and other walkways - available

• Our walkways are open under AL2.

Cemeteries – open

• Funerals, tangihanga, kawe/hari mate, unveilings can go ahead at AL2.
• Limited to 50 people indoors and 100 outdoors.
• Face coverings, contact tracing and maintain physical distance.

Urban connector - available

The Urban Connector service resumes all regular services, including the Tokoroa to Taupo run and the Tokoroa to Tīrau District Service.

• Normal fares apply including cash fares.
• Boarding from the front allowed.
• Wearing of face coverings is a legal requirement for people aged 12 and over.
• To help achieve physical distancing, passengers must be seated. No standing permitted.
• Sanitise on entry.

Waste management – open/available

• The Transfer Stations in Putāruru and Tokoroa are open to the public.
• The recycling drop-off zones at the Transfer Stations and the Tīrau Recycling facility are open to the public.
• Kerbside rubbish and recycling collections continue as normal, using the new wheelie bin service.
• Alert Level 2 protocols apply – contactless payment, face coverings, social distance of two metres, contact tracing.

Roading, parks and other operational works

• Most of our activities will continue at Alert Level 2, if they didn’t already resume at AL3.
• All activities will be conducted in accordance with AL2 protocols.

Alert Level 2 restrictions available at https://covid19.govt.nz/alert-levels-and-updates/a...

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