Summer in the Western Bay – what you need to know

From library opening hours and rubbish collections, to freedom camping, dog walking, and cycle trails, Western Bay of Plenty District Council has put together a summer guide to help people make the most of the festive season.

All this information - and more - can be found on Council’s dedicated Summer Information 2025/2026 web page: westernbay.govt.nz/council/summer-information

Library and service centres

Libraries and service centres at Barkes Corner, Katikati, Te Puke, Ōmokoroa, and Waihī Beach will close from midday Wednesday 24 December and reopen on Monday 5 January, giving people time to finish end-of-year tasks and borrow books for holiday reading.

From 20 December to 10 January, inclusive, the statutory timeframe for building consents, code of compliance certificates and resource consents will be paused. All applications submitted will not have the days counted over this shut-down period.

There will also be a delay in processing digital property file orders received on or after Friday 19 December. Council’s normal 3-5 working day turnaround will start again from Monday 12 January.

Kerbside rubbish and recycling collections

For households with Thursday or Friday pickups, kerbside rubbish and recycling collections will run a day later than usual over the weeks of Christmas and New Year. In high-visitor areas - Waihī Beach, Bowentown, Athenree and Pukehina - extra collections will also be running.

Summer hours apply for Katikati, Athenree and Te Puke Recycling Centres and the Ōmokoroa Greenwaste Centre. A calendar can be found on Council’s Summer Information web page, including mobile recycling trailer locations.

Freedom camping

There are 46 designated freedom camping spots across the District, and over the summer Council contractors will be doing regular patrols to make sure everyone is following the rules. Daily patrols will take place from Friday 19 December to Friday 6 February. For more information and maps on where freedom camping is allowed, visit westernbay.govt.nz/recreation/camping-and-freedom-camping

Walking your dog

Dog owners are reminded that from 17 December to 7 February, inclusive, dogs are not allowed on the main beach at Waihī Beach between 9am and 7pm.

Off-leash walking is allowed in the area of Bowentown beach (roughly the beach area between Albacore Ave and Plom Road) as long as the owner carries a leash and keeps their dog under control. Dogs must be on a leash at Island View Reserve until March, due to birds nesting within the reserve.

The Summer Information page also has information on:

• Walking trails
• Cycle trails
• Public swimming pools
• What’s On
• Alcohol ban areas
• Noise complaints
• Water quality
• Lighting fires

Stay informed and make the most of the festive season by checking Council’s Summer Information page for updates on services, activities, and local rules at: westernbay.govt.nz/council/summer-information