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News
Council introduces three strikes system to tackle bin contamination
Whakatāne District Council is introducing a three strikes system to help reduce contamination in kerbside recycling and greenwaste bins.
Severe weather effects - 4/5 June
The Whakatāne District experienced widespread effects to a period of intense rain and strong winds.
Bay of Plenty Regional Council advisory
The Regional Council is advising that stock on low-lying land immediately beside the Rangitāiki River, and particularly in areas upstream from Te Teko, be moved to higher ground due to a risk of flooding.
This warning DOES NOT apply to areas protected by stopbanks and the Regional Council stresses that there is no risk of flooding in Edgecumbe or the Rangitāiki Plains area.
Power down: Drop off your old batteries on 14 June
If you’ve got a collection of old household batteries lying around, now’s your chance to drop them off safely and for free.
Whakatāne District Council is hosting a ‘Battery Take Back’ event on Saturday, 14 June from 10am to 12pm at the Whakatāne Resource Recovery Centre. The event is open to all and is a simple way to dispose of used batteries responsibly.
Radio 1XX will be on hand with spot prizes, and Council staff will be available to answer questions about battery disposal and other recycling options.
Have your say on safer speeds across the Whakatāne District
The Whakatāne District Council is inviting the community to share its views on proposed speed limit changes.
Council services availability - King's Birthday 2025
Our main office will be closed Monday, 2 June in observance of the King's Birthday. Most Council services will either have reduced opening hours or be closed entirely.
Community invited to comment on further submissions to Plan Change 4
The Whakatāne District Council is inviting further submissions on Plan Change 4 (PC4): Building Platform Level, which proposes updates to the District Plan to improve how flood risk to buildings is managed and simplify the consenting process.
What’s next for local water services?
Community consultation on the future delivery of Whakatāne District’s water services has now closed, and Whakatāne District Council is thanking everyone who took the time to have their say.
Time is running out to have your say on the future of local water services
The Whakatāne District Council is reminding residents that time is nearly up to share their views on the future of local water services, with the Local Water Done Well formal consultation closing at 5pm this Sunday, 18 May.
Over the past few weeks, elected members and staff have been out in the community, talking with residents and gathering feedback on a proposal that will shape how water services are delivered across the district for years to come.
Rangatahi Road Safety Roadshow focuses on rural students
More than 250 rangatahi from across the Eastern Bay of Plenty took part in this year’s 2025 Rangatahi Road Safety Roadshow, which focused on delivering practical road safety education to rural schools.
Whakatāne District Council approves Plan Change 5 to safeguard accessible parking
Whakatāne District Council has today approved Plan Change 5: Accessible Parking, following extensive community consultation.
Council adopts new Procurement Policy to boost transparency, value and local outcomes
A revised Procurement Policy has been adopted by Whakatāne District Council to bring its approach in line with modern best practices, support local outcomes, and strengthen financial and risk management.
The revised policy was approved at today's Council meeting (8 May, 2025) and replaces the previous version, which was last updated in 2012.
Procurement and Risk Manager Ingrid McNiven said the review of the policy was timely and essential.
Making room to grow: Plan Change 8 gets the green light
A key plan change to unlock new housing in Whakatāne has been approved, paving the way for around 175 new homes, including papakāinga and medium-density options.
Whakatāne District Council has confirmed that Plan Change 8, which rezones around 15 hectares of land near Huna Road, will be fully operative by the end of the month.
This means the change will be officially part of the District Plan – there are no more appeals or legal steps to work through.
Council to consider Air Chathams' financial support request on 8 May 2025
Whakatāne District Council will consider a formal request for financial support from Air Chathams at its meeting on Thursday, 8 May 2025.
Air Chathams has asked Council to consider a proposal which includes:
Think before you toss. Never bin your batteries.
Batteries might be small, but they can cause big problems if disposed of incorrectly.
Feedback sought on the future of local water services
Whakatāne District Council is inviting residents to have their say on a proposal that will shape how essential water services, including drinking water, stormwater, and wastewater, are delivered in the future.
Whakatāne Aquatic and Fitness Centre closing for maintenance and upgrades
The Whakatāne Aquatic and Fitness Centre's pools will close to the public next month for a three-week period to allow for annual maintenance and improvements.
The indoor pools will close entirely from Thursday, 15 May and re-open on Friday, 6 June, 2025.
While the fitness centre will remain open, the outdoor pool will have limited access to pre-arranged groups and clubs only.
During this time contractors will install new epoxy flooring, recondition the pool pumps, replace the air handling unit, and install energy-efficient pool covers for the outdoor pool.
Our Places – Eastern Bay Spatial Plan nearing completion as implementation set to begin
The Our Places – Eastern Bay Spatial Plan is nearing completion, marking a significant milestone for growth and development planning across the Eastern Bay.
Tropical Cyclone Tam - Weather Warning
Tropical Cyclone Tam has officially arrived, bringing significant wind and rainfall to our region.
Significant progress in finding a long-term wastewater solution for Matatā
Finding a sustainable wastewater solution for Matatā has been a major focus for Whakatāne District Council over the past three years, with work ongoing to select a preferred option, bringing the community closer to a long-term solution.
A report on the project’s progress was presented to the Infrastructure and Planning Committee today (10 April) outlining the work completed to date and the next steps in the process.
Council services availability - ANZAC Day 2025
Our main offices will be closed on Friday, 25 April and most council services will either have reduced opening hours or be closed entirely in observance of ANZAC Day.
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