A number of Waikato District Council services will resume when the country moves to Alert Level 3 at 11.59pm on Monday 27 April.
But Council hasn’t been resting on its laurels during this time – staff have been carrying out a major role in supporting the local, regional and national Civil Defence efforts.
“Like other essential services such as energy and telecommunication providers, Fire & Emergency, NZ Police, the District Health Boards, and many other government services, we have not stopped during the lockdown,” Waikato District Council Chief Executive Gavin Ion says.
During this time, council has continued to provide essential services that keep people safe and healthy, such as drinking water, wastewater, rubbish collection, burials, animal control, essential roading and safety repairs and flood protection.
“Many of our other activities have also been able to continue albeit remotely. For example, we’re able to process building and resource consents, deal with customer queries in our contact centre, work on our Long Term and District Plans and continue with Council meetings,” Mr Ion says.
The Government’s decision to move to Alert Level 3 next week allows many businesses to get going again, and for many people to go back to work.
Mr Ion says council services in Level 3 will look similar to what they did in Level 4, but where it is safe to do so, some site visits will resume.
“Council facilities like offices, libraries, pools and halls will remain closed. We will continue to provide office services when they do not require face to face contact, for example online and over the phone. Parks will be open for local exercise but playgrounds will remain closed.
“Recycling collection has continued for the vast majority of our district during Level 4 so this will continue into and through Level 3. We expect site inspections to resume where it is safe to do so, for example building inspections and resource consent site visits.”
Mr Ion says council has a crucial role to play in recovering economically and socially from the effects of the COVID-19 crisis.
“We need to follow the guidance given by the Government as to what we can and can’t do under Level 3. We will continue to provide all of our services that we’re able to, like processing building consents, and our essential water, roads and waste services. Our Civil Defence and emergency management responsibilities, including recovery, will continue for some months.”
ENDS
For more information please contact:
Teresa Hancock
Senior Communications & Engagement Advisor
Waikato District Council
027 706 5776
communications@waidc.govt.nz
