COVID-19 Information

Here you'll find information and updates from Council in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last updated: 3 May 2022

Useful Links

Traffic light setting: Orange

The Western Bay of Plenty District is currently at Orange.

Vaccine passes

Vaccine passes are no longer required upon entry to Council facilities and events.

Face masks

Face masks are still required when visiting our libraries and service centres.

Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) community collection sites

Rapid antigen tests (RATs) can be ordered on the Bay of Plenty DHB website, and then collected at a collection site.

This is for:

• people with COVID-19 symptoms or who are a household contact
• critical workers who are household contacts
• border workers who are required to be tested under the Required Testing Order.

See here for a list of collection sites in the Bay of Plenty.

Recycling and greenwaste centres

Please note there is a change in hours for the Athenree and Katikati recycling centres from Monday 7 March until further notice. There are no changes to Te Puke recycling centre or Ōmokoroa greenwaste centre:

Before visiting the centre please note the following processes put in place for everyone’s safety:

• Stay home if you feel unwell
• Wear a face mask
• Keep 2 metres away from other people
• Cardboard must be flattened before arrival to limit time on-site
• Separate recyclables prior to arrival for easy drop-off into plastics, glass, paper, tins/can and cardboard
• No cash – Eftpos with paywave only for greenwaste drop-off

Council meetings

Council, committee, community board and ward forum meetings are now being held in-person again, however we will continue to livestream.

Council and committee meetings via our YouTube channel here.

Parks and playgrounds

All playgrounds and reserve facilities are open including playgrounds, public toilets, picnic tables, drinking fountains and public barbecues.

Ensure you continue to follow safe social distancing, staying 2m away from others and stay home if you're sick.

Barkes Corner head office, libraries and services centres

All library and service centres are open across the Western Bay. Vaccine passes are not required, however face masks are still mandatory.

To help everyone maintain distancing, signs and floor markings have been installed at all facilities.

Surfaces at Council library and service centres will be frequently cleaned and hand sanitiser will be available for visitors to use.

TECT Park

TECT Park is open as normal.

Suppliers

From Monday 30 May 2022 we will no longer require contractors and service providers to be fully vaccinated when interacting with our staff at our offices and facilities outside of public meeting areas.

All appropriate COVID-19 health, hygiene and safety measures will remain in place at our offices and facilities such as face masks, hand sanitising and physical distancing.

In addition, we ask that if you or any member of your team is feeling unwell and showing COVID-19 symptoms please stay at home.

We appreciate that you may continue to have vaccination mandates or other COVID-19 protocols in place at your business. If you notify us in writing of your COVID-19 policy, we will inform our people of the need to adhere to this policy when visiting your business.

COVID-19 remains unpredictable and we retain the right to continue to conduct regular risk assessments as public health advice and WorkSafe guidance changes. It’s not out of the question, that future risk assessments may determine that certain contractor or service provider roles can only safely be carried out by those who have been vaccinated.