Whakatāne District Council is advising its communities that there will be ongoing impacts to levels of service from the current Omicron outbreak and is asking for patience and understanding.

Council's focus remains on continuing to provide vital services to its communities while minimising risk to people and their whānau. Interruptions and reductions to service levels are being seen due to the high numbers of Omicron cases and associated isolation requirements, and these are expected to continue.

General Manager Infrastructure, Bevan Gray says the flow-on effect of one group of roading contractors needing to isolate, for example, is significant. “With the removal of one team of contractors for at least 10 days, we see that project being put on hold, which then also delays the start of subsequent scheduled infrastructure projects,” he says. “Added to this are the problems we’re already experiencing in securing the equipment and materials required to carry out the physical works.”

Mr Gray notes that these impacts are likely to be extended, and may see a number of capital works projects unable to be completed within the financial year they’re budgeted for. “This is the reality of the situation that we’re in,” he says. “The optimal window of weather for these works will soon be over, and inclement weather along with delays in supplies will mean a considerable amount of patience will be required as projects are pushed out further or put on hold.”

​General Manager Community Experience, Georgina Fletcher who manages Council’s facilities portfolio, says that actions taken earlier to reduce the impacts to Council’s services and facilities have been paying off, however further impacts are inevitable given the volume of COVID-19 cases we’re seeing across the district.

Mrs Fletcher says a review in January 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 has proven helpful. “Many of our staff have been working from home successfully, while those particularly in front-facing roles have been maintaining rosters of team work bubbles.

"In spite of our ability to separate and work in bubbles, we’re seeing increasing impacts on households for our staff,” she says. "We’re working hard to deliver contactless service options and many Council services are available online. Where services do need to be reduced or closed, we’ll make this known through Council’s website and we ask people to check there first before a visit to one of our facilities.”

Council’s main Customer Service Centre can be reached by telephone on 07 306 0500, Murupara Service Centre on 07 366 5896 and most payments and applications can be made on Council’s website.

A webpage shows each of Council’s services and facilities with a red, orange or green indicator to show whether they are closed, have a reduced service, or are continuing as normal.

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

Find out more information about our services and facilities »