BOPRC working to deliver essential services

Council responded to an urgent pollution incident where approximately 11,000 litres of molasses spilled on State Highway 29 on Thursday last week, where some discharged into the Omanawa River. Photo: BOPRC.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council Toi Moana is working to deliver essential services to the region during the Alert Level 4 in accordance with strict contact tracing, hygiene and physical distancing protocols.

These services include providing public transport - on a restricted schedule for essential travel only - and responding to urgent pollution incidents like the about 11,000 litres of molasses spilled on State Highway 29 on Thursday, where some discharged into the Omanawa River.

Work is also continuing on replacing a floodwall on East Bank Road in Thornton – this is work that is important to finish in case the Rangitāiki River rises in a rain event.

Toi Moana Chief Executive Fiona McTavish says while the majority of the Regional Council's staff are working from home, some on-site work is necessary to keep the community safe.

'It's important that everyone who can, stays home. We want to assure the community we are only leaving our bubbles to carry out essential work or services during Alert Level Four.

'Our staff and contractors are working hard to provide these essential services safely around our rohe and we've adapted all other activities so these can be done remotely.”

'While our receptions are closed we are still here to support the community and people can get in touch with us by phone, email or via our website.”

Essential services we're delivering during Alert Level Four:

  • Civil Defence Emergency Management       
  • Sampling and analysing water quality for safe human activities including drinking water
  • Public transport on a restricted schedule for essential travel only 
  • Ensuring maritime navigational safety
  • Incident and pollution response including related enforcement
  • Biosecurity incursion response and eradication
  • Flood and drought management, flood protection and land drainage, including management of lake levels
  • Natural hazard event monitoring, response and recovery (including 24/7 flood monitoring programme)
  • Compliance monitoring programmes for high risk activities as they relate to human, aquatic and animal health
  • Regional governance and leadership 
  • Continuing work on replacing the floodwall on the lower Rangitāiki River

Many council business-as-usual activities are continuing to be delivered by staff who are working from home and using remote technology.

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