This page contains information about our current projects and plans for the District.
We’re harvesting two blocks of pine trees on the eastern side of Valley Road in Whakatāne.
Our main offices will be closed from midday Tuesday, 24 December 2024 and will re-open Monday, 6 January 2025. Most Council services will either have reduced opening hours or be closed entirely during this period. See the full list of services' opening hours »
Council Projects
The current pump station on Ferry Road is more than 60 years old and is not fit-for purpose. Upgrading the existing wastewater pump station will include safety upgrades, electrical enhancements, and increased pumping capacity.
He Waka Hono Hapori Community Connections and Outreach Project aims to provide better accessibility to Council services in remote communities.
Council is working to improve the capability and effectiveness of the stormwater infrastructure in the Hinemoa Street area. The existing pump station (which is situated in the road reserve on Hinemoa Street) is insufficiently sized for the 139 hectare catchment it services.
Project Future Proof is a multi-stage project, led by Bay of Plenty Regional Council, to upgrade flood defences (stopbanks and floodwalls) along the Whakatāne CBD stretches of the river (Ōhinemataroa).
Major works on the main western entrance to the district are underway, bringing road closures, detours and interruptions to usual travel.
Water meters will be installed on all connected properties within the Matatā water scheme boundary. Water meters allow for more effective and efficient identification of leaks, as many underground leaks go undetected without proper monitoring.
Between 2018 and 2019, the old cargo shed at Port Ōhope wharf got a much-needed facelift. In 2021, we explored how to unlock its full potential and boost rental income.
The goal? To turn it into a vibrant hub for visitors—enhancing tourism and supporting local businesses.
In the summer of 2021/22, we launched ‘Wharfside,’ a trial to make the space a go-to spot for summer tourists and off-season events. Now in its third year, Wharfside is still growing, but we’ve hit a few bumps - especially with hosting winter events and private functions.
Peace Street in Whakatāne will be the site of major road and infrastructure works over the next few months as important upgrades are rolled out.
Whakatāne District has an abundance of amazing spaces and places that our communities enjoy in a heap of different ways. Demands on these spaces and places are evolving from users of the whenua / land and facilities for sporting, community, social, and cultural activities and events as individuals and in groups large and small.
We've upgraded the existing CCTV network with modern cameras, added additional cameras and improved system monitoring abilities with help from Better Off Funding.
We want everyone who calls the Whakatāne District home, or who visits our community, to be safe when using our streets and roads. To do this, we need the right speeds on our roads for everyone, whether you are walking to the shops, biking to school, driving to work, or making deliveries.
Whakatāne is proud to be the recipient of the Supreme Towns & Cities Award from the national Keep New Zealand Beautiful Awards.
Whakatāne will receive, as part of the Resene awards sponsorship, a mural painted in our town - and we're looking for an artist to make this happen!
Our seal extension policy outlines how we as a Council will prioritise sealing gravel roads in our District.
A significant upgrade of the main Council office will be undertaken from 2021-2023 to address issues and concerns with the building, and make a range of improvements to ensure it will be fit-for-purpose into the future.
A $36.8 million funding injection from central government will enable transformational change throughout the Whakatane District.
Better off Funding is part of the Three Waters Reform process. Central government has set aside $2 billion (nationwide) for councils to use to improve amenity and outcomes for residents. This funding provides huge opportunity for councils to progress and accelerate projects while ensuring minimal impact to ratepayers.
Active Whakatāne is a strategy that aims to make active modes of travel like walking, cycling and scootering around the district easier and safer for all ages and abilities.
A review of the management of Whakatāne urban stormwater systems, including the quantity and quality of stormwater run-off. This is driven in part by the need to obtain a Comprehensive Stormwater Consent (CSC) for the Whakatāne urban area. We're using this as an opportunity to plan for a stronger, more resilient stormwater system.
This page contains links to the Whakatāne Geotechnical Database and Whakatāne 3D Geological Model.
Since 2005, the Whakatāne District has experienced a series of high rainfall weather events triggering a number of landslides and debris flows. This has resulted in devastation and damage to a number of homes, severe injury and even fatality. In view of the history, we commissioned a study assessing the level of risk posed by future landslide events.
The Matatā Wastewater co-design group is made up of iwi and hapū representatives from Te Mana o Ngāti Rangitihi Trust, Tūwharetoa ki Kawerau, and Ngāti Awa through its hapū Ngai Te Rangihouhiri, Ngāti Hikakino and Te Tawera, to work collaboratively with the Council to co-design a solution.
This page contains information about our previous and completed projects for the District.
Our new station is being built as part of an ongoing work programme to upgrade infrastructure and help mitigate future flooding. This is important as climate change will bring more heavy rain events to our rohe.