Whakatāne District Council has activated a plan to safeguard service delivery to its communities in the face of the anticipated impacts of the COVID-19 Omicron variant.

Chief Executive Steph O'Sullivan says the past fortnight has seen a review of all of council's business continuity plans and intense work with staff across the organisation to prepare for the inevitable increase of COVID cases across the district.

"The decisions we have made as an Executive are based on principles of continuing to provide vital services to our communities, while minimising risk to our people and their whānau, and doing all we can to support our health system to serve those who need it most."

"It is easy to foresee the effect of having one person in our offices test positive for Omicron. The resulting need to isolate could mean we wouldn't have enough staff to maintain services - it is far more practical to proactively put distance between our people now, to help slow the spread and ensure we can keep our business running. 

For many of our staff members, this will mean working from home, which we have successfully proved we can do, and for others it will mean maintaining rosters of team work bubbles."

"Customers and communities need to be aware that we are doing all we can for ongoing preparedness however it's an everchanging environment," Ms Sullivan adds.

"While all Council services continue and facilities remain open, with vaccine passes at this time, we also need to prepare for reduction of service levels, potential temporary closures or pausing some services if infection rates escalate markedly and staff need to be redeployed to critical work. The council's priority is to maintain and deliver critical lifeline services at all times, specifically - water, roading, waste and our capacity for an Emergency Response. In the interim we are working hard to ensure our facilities and services remain open for people’s enjoyment through these lovely summer months."

"We have worked hard to deliver contactless service options and many Council services are available online and the main Customer Service Centre can be reached by telephone 07 3060500; Murupara Service Centre 07 366 5896. Those visiting Council facilities are reminded to scan the NZ COVID Tracer QR code or sign the hard-copy register," Ms O'Sullivan concludes.

All Council and Community Board meetings will continue to be held online. Meeting agendas are posted on the Council website.

Find more local COVID-19 information | Council services and facilities information | covid19.govt.nz