Whakatāne District Council elected members and staff are inviting the business sector and wider community to participate in the annual CBD Spruce-up working bee, which this year has been extended to include the Kopeopeo retail area.

Council Places and Open Spaces Manager Mike Naude says any volunteers who are keen to donate some time to help get our main commercial areas in great shape ahead of the busy summer season are welcome to join in the working bees. Kopeopeo’s spruce-up is planned for Tuesday, 1 December (6:30-8 am, meeting at the Lovelock Street entrance to the Pak’n’Save car park), while the Whakatāne CBD spruce-up will be held on Thursday, 3 December (6:30-8 am, meeting at Margaret Mahy Court, on the western side of the Civic Centre).

“The working bees will focus on light pruning work, weeding and a general tidy-up. Any volunteers should bring along gardening gloves and tools – such as a rake, weeding trowel, broom or secateurs,” he says. “At the conclusion of Thursday’s working bee, we’ll have a celebratory breakfast barbecue for participants at the Civic Centre."

To register for one or both of these working bees, contact Mike Naude - 07 306 0500, or email Mike.Naude@whakatane.govt.nz