Following the Prime Minister's announcement that the nationwide Alert Level Four lockdown would be extended, Western Bay of Plenty District Council has reviewed some of its services.

Under Alert Level 4, until 11.59pm Tuesday August 24, all Western Bay of Plenty District Council's core services will continue to operate, and residents will continue to have their rubbish and recycling collected. Many other Council services will continue to operate online or via phone and email.

Council CEO John Holyoake thanks everyone for their patience and understanding given the last three days has caused some disruption to Council services.

'We're committed to maintaining essential services to the District while supporting the health and wellbeing of the community and staff in response to COVID-19.

'I also want to thank our Council staff, and contractors, who have been working hard to keep these essential services up and running.”

Kerbside collections and recycling centres

Under Alert Level 4 restrictions the red rubbish bin and yellow mixed recycling bin will still be collected on your normal collection day (Monday August 23 and Tuesday August 24).

Pay-as-you-throw tags must be attached to the red lid rubbish bin for collection.

However, at this stage, the green food scraps bin and glass recycling crates will not be collected during Alert Level 4.

A modified assisted service will be provided from Monday. Council has already contacted those residents scheduled for an assisted service on Monday.

remain suspended, customers will be contacted with more information.

Recycling centres remain closed.

Parks, playgrounds and pools

All playgrounds in the Western Bay are closed. Please stay away from playgrounds and stay off all equipment.

Picnic tables, drinking fountains and public barbecues are closed.

Parks and reserves remain open so you can get exercise and fresh air. Ensure you follow safe social distancing - this means keeping 2 metres away from other people not in your isolation bubble.

TECT Park is closed until further notice.

Public toilets

A number of the Western Bay of Plenty District Council public toilets are closed. See below for OPEN toilets.

Available public toilets:

Customer service

The Western Bay of Plenty District Council contact centre team is operating at a reduced capacity, however will still be responding to phone, email and online enquiries as normal 24 hours a day. If you need to get in touch with Council, you can do so via the contact form on their website, phone 07 571 8008 or 0800 926 732 or email customer.service@westernbay.govt.nz.

Barkes Corner head office, libraries and services centres

All libraries are closed. The due dates on any items you currently have out of our libraries will be automatically extended. There will be no overdue fees. No further books can be issued and reserved books will not be able to be collected. Please do not return any library books currently issued.

The free WiFi sites will be available outside the buildings in Katikati, Te Puke, Waihī Beach and Ōmokoroa from 8am until 8pm, seven days a week. Appropriate measures will be in place to ensure users are kept safe and adhere to physical distancing restrictions.

As a library member, you have access to thousands of eBooks and eAudiobooks online, as well as newspapers and magazines and a range of online databases for you to explore. For more information visit: libraries.westernbay.govt.nz.

Building inspections

All building inspections are currently suspended until further notice. Council will be in touch to rebook cancelled inspections when we move to Alert Level 3.

Animal services

If you're heading out for a walk around your neighbourhood with your dog, we recommend keeping your dog on-leash at all times - even in normal off-leash areas.

Public safety complaints will be attended by our animal control officers. This includes dog attacks on people, dogs roaming on state highways, or dangerous dogs roaming.

Lost and found dogs - where possible members of the public should make efforts to identify the owner and return the dog. Support will be provided by Council staff where owners cannot be identified.

Exercising your dog during isolation:

• Walk your dog on leash. Keeping them on a leash minimises the chance of attacks and accidents.
• Do not invite any people on the dog walk who are not in self-isolation with you already.
• Try to avoid places where there are likely to be other people, to maintain social distancing of 2m from others. This includes your dog.
• For more tips visit the Companion Animals website.

Boat ramps

All boat ramps in the Western Bay are closed. Signage has been put up at boat ramps to advise of this.

Save our pipes from wipes

Wet wipes can cause a real headache for Council if people put them down the toilet instead of in the rubbish during lockdown.

Repairing any blockages can put staff at higher risk of contracting the COVID-19 virus.

We realise that wipes are a convenient and hygienic option, but please don't flush them down the toilet. Place them in a bag and put them out for rubbish pick-up to the landfill.