We’re Opening! Level 2 Services.

13 May 2020

Level 2 Council Services

13 May 2020

All Council services that were operating at Level 3 will continue to do so, and some will have increased operating hours. Services that were closed under Level 3 will now open.

If you are feeling unwell or have Covid-19 symptoms, please stay at home. Online services are available and our customer service centre is available for customers to phone us.

Customer service centre and Council offices

Council’s customer service centre at the Council offices in Hokitika will be open for business from Thursday 14 May at 8.30am.

Customers will be able to visit to make payments, drop off forms and other face-to-face business. Strict hygiene measures for staff and customers and social distancing will be in place.

Staff will be able to meet with customers on an appointment-only basis. If you need to see a member of staff, please contact our Customer Service centre to make an appointment.

Where possible, it is still preferable to make use of online services as this will allow customers who do not have access to these services the opportunity to safely conduct their transactions.

If you wish to make a submission to the Draft Annual Plan 2020/2021 we ask that you do so online, by email Consult@westlanddc.govt.nz or over the phone in the first instance to ensure all submissions are received by the closing date on 7 June 2020.

Pay invoices here

Email: council@westlanddc.govt.nz

Phone: 03 756 9010 or 0800 474 834

Welfare Services

The Civil Defence welfare service hotline for people with urgent household goods and service’s needs is still operating.

The service runs 7 days a week from 7.00am to 7.00pm. Please call 0800 800 545 if you need assistance.

Photos by Evgeni Tcherkasski on Unsplash and United Nations COVID-19 Response on Unsplash

Leisure Services and Transfer Stations Level 2

13 May 2020

Operations for leisure services under Alert Level 2 are as follows:

Parks and playgrounds

Parks and playgrounds will be opened on Thursday 14 May at 8am. Please observe social distancing and good hygiene. Group gatherings of more than 10 people are not allowed.

Public toilets

All public toilets will be open from Thursday 14 May at 8am. Increased cleaning services will continue.

Jacksons Bay boat ramp

The Jacksons Bay boat ramp will open for recreational use from Thursday 14 May at 8am.

Community Halls

Community Halls will reopen but users must observe Government guidelines for group numbers, contact tracing and hygiene measures.

Cemeteries

Cemetery services remain the same as Level 3. Visits to the cemetery are allowed but please observe social distancing. Gatherings must have 10 or fewer people. Please speak to your Funeral Director for information about funeral arrangements.

Transfer stations

Regular transfer station opening hours can be found here.

Hokitika Transfer station will be open at the weekends and the regular weekday hours. Please be patient if there are queues due to social distancing and observe hygiene measures.
All other transfer stations will be open for their regular hours.

Leisure Services and Transfer Stations Level 2

Library services at Alert Level 2

13 May 2020

From Thursday 14th May the Library will be open for ‘Click (or Call) and Collect’ service only, not for general access to the library. More information on how to Click/Call and Collect will be available in the next couple of days in the Library e-newsletter and on the Library’s Facebook page.

Library staff know many of you are keen to get into the library to browse for your next good book. Please be patient, over the next week as library staff make the adjustments and changes required to comply with the Alert Level 2 guidelines and open to the public. There will be some temporary changes in how we operate the services to help keep library visitors and staff safe and make sure we support the nationwide progress made during the Level 3 & 4 Covid-19 lockdown. More information on how the library will be re-introducing the services you love, will be published on our website , Facebook page and in our e-newsletter. If you would like to subscribe to our e-newsletter, please email library@westlib.co.nz.

Digital Services available

Many library members have started using digital services (e-books, e-audiobooks, e-newspapers, magazines and films) for the first-time during lockdown. In April 1683 digital items were read or watched, that’s nearly 70% more than in January. It’s not too late to discover these fantastic resources, if you need help, just call us 03 755 6208.

Internet service assistance

Library staff are continuing to help Westland residents access the internet. During lock down we have helped many households get online with Skinny Jump a service subsidised by the Spark Foundation and offered through a partnership between the Digital Inclusion Alliance Aotearoa and Westland District Libraries. It is a low-cost prepaid broadband service for eligible homes, offering a free modem, 30GB of broadband for $5, no contracts, no credit checks, no need for a phone line. If you would like to find out if you are eligible, call us on 03 7556208.

If you have any questions about services under Alert Level 2, please contact us on 03 7556208 or email library@westlib.co.nz.

Photo by Leyre Labarga on Unsplash

Draft Annual Plan 2020/2021 Consultation open

Consultation on the Draft Annual Plan 2020/2021 is open from 8am Thursday 7 May – 5pm Sunday 7 June 2020.

Key consultation items include:

To prepare for future Civil Defence Emergencies, Council will purchase shipping containers containing Civil Defence supplies to be placed at five strategic locations throughout the district. Council wants to know if communities prefer a basic option that can be customised for the community or a luxury option that is standard in each community.
Council has researched further options for the Hokitika Wastewater Treatment Plant following confirmed cost of tendering by Westland Milk Products. Council would like the community’s opinion on the different options available.
Fox Glacier and Franz Josef Community Associations have applied for additional funding for each community’s Township Development Fund. The money would be applied to the fund in 2020/21 and charged as a rates increase in 2021/22 on top of any ongoing increased funding. Council would like to hear from the communities if they agree with this funding.
The Westland Sports Hub at Westland High School in Hokitika could be vested to Council and become a community asset. Payments insuring the structure would be included in the Hokitika Community Rate. Council would like to know if the community wants the structure to become a Council asset.
Ross Community Society has asked Council to release funds from the Ross Endowment Land Fund to pay for repairs to the Ross Community Gym and Squash Courts. This is an opportunity for the community to tell Council if this is how they would like to use the funds.

Full details, including the Draft Annual Plan 2020/2021, the Consultation Document and how to submit can be found on our website.

Draft Annual Plan 2020/2021 Consultation open

Fourth Quarter Rates

13 May 2020

Council has been undertaking all essential services throughout the Covid-19 Alert period. These services, such as rubbish and recycling collection, waste and stormwater maintenance and drinking water treatment, and road repairs and maintenance are necessary to ensure that Westland Residents have a clean and safe district to live in. The rates on your property pay for these services and the staff who provide them. Fourth quarter rates payments are due by 30 May 2020.

If you believe that you will have difficulty paying your rates, please do not just stop paying. Contact Council at ratesofficer@westlanddc.govt.nz or phone 0800 474 834 if you would like to discuss your options – we want to help. More information is also available on our rates page.

Rates Rebates

Council administers the Rates Rebates scheme for low-income households on behalf of the Department of Internal Affairs. To receive a rebate on 2019/20 Rates you must apply before 30 June. If you are uncertain if you qualify, use the rebate calculator. Rebates are available pro-rata up to $640. Find out more on the DIA website.

Alert Level 2 – Golden Rules For Everyone

13 May 2020

Do everything you can to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission – we all have a part to play in keeping each other safe.

COVID-19 is still out there. Play it safe.
Keep your distance from other people in public.
If you’re sick, stay home. Don’t go to work or school. Don’t socialise.
If you have symptoms of cold or flu call your doctor or Healthline and get tested.
Wash your hands. Wash your hands. Wash your hands.
Sneeze and cough into your elbow, regularly disinfect surfaces.
If you have been told to self-isolate you must do so immediately.
Keep a track of where you’ve been and who you’ve seen.

Alert Level 2 – Golden Rules for Business

13 May 2020

Do everything you can to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission at work – we all have a part to play in keeping each other safe.

1. COVID-19 is still out there. Play it safe.
2. All businesses can operate if they can do so safely. Alternative ways of working are encouraged where possible.
3. Hospitality business should keep customers seated, separated, and with a single server.
4. Talk with your workers to identify risks and ways to manage them.
5. Ask everyone – workers, contractors and customers – with cold or flu-like symptoms to stay away from your premises.
6. Keep groups of customers at least 1 metre apart
7. Keep contact-tracing records of anyone who will have close interaction (workers, contractors or customers).
8. Reduce the number of shared surfaces, and regularly disinfect them.
9. Wash your hands. Wash your hands. Wash your hands.

Photosby Evgeni Tcherkasski on Unsplash