Council Services
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
NEW RAPID ANTIGEN TEST COLLECTION SITE NOW IN WAIMATE
FRIDAY 11 MARCH 2022
If you are showing COVID-19 symptoms or are a household contact, you can either pre-order a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) online to collect, or go to the Waimate RAT collection site, now available.
The distribution site will be at the Waimate Rugby Club on Wall Street from Monday to Saturday, 9am to 11am.
If you are symptomatic or a household contact, you can now order free rapid antigen tests (RATs) through the newly launched RAT requester website requestrats.covid19.health.nz, or by ringing 0800 222 478 (option 3) from 8am to 8pm. Please note, you will need to have access to a mobile phone to validate the order
You will be issued an order number and then you can then collect your RAT order from a RAT collection site, or have someone collect it for you.
For people who are not unwell or a household contact, but want to get a RAT for other purposes, such as to visit an elderly relative, you will also be able to purchase these at retailers – including supermarkets.
REPORTING YOUR RESULT
If you complete a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) you need to report your result on My Covid Record. Log into mycovidrecord.health.nz, or call 0800 222 478 and press option 3.
For more information, you can visit:
https://www.cdhb.health.nz/.../covid-19-care-in-the.../
Stay safe Waimate.
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IMPORTANT UPDATE
LIFE AT RED
SUNDAY 23 JANUARY 2022
All of New Zealand will move to Red at 11.59pm on Sunday 23 January 2022.
At Red, there are few changes to Council services and facilities. However, there are more mask requirements, and reduced gathering limits to lower the risk of picking up the virus and super spreader events. Red is not lockdown. Our goal at Red is to slow the spread of Omicron.
Businesses stay open and you can do most of things that you normally do, including visiting family and friends and travelling around the country. There are no regional boundaries.
Here’s what you can do:
- Get a booster dose if you’re over 18 and it has been 4 months since your last dose.
- Wear a face covering whenever you leave the house.
- Make sure you have your My Vaccine Pass ready to be scanned – most places will have restrictions in place.
- Keep scanning QR codes everywhere you go with the NZ COVID Tracer app.
- Keep physically distanced where possible.
- If you have cold or flu symptoms, isolate immediately, and call Healthline for advice about a test.
- Workplaces remain open but where a workplace deems it appropriate, they may choose to have employees work from home.
- Schools and early learning centres will be open –extra public health measures including mask wearing for everyone from year four and up. It is our intention for schools to return as planned.
- Retail is open with public health measures in place. Some businesses may choose to have a My Vaccine Pass requirement.
With My Vaccine Pass, public facilities, close customer contact business, hospitality and gyms are open.
With My Vaccine Pass, you can have gatherings of up to 100 people, based on the size of the venue (including private social gatherings at home).
Without My Vaccine Pass, there are some restrictions that will apply:
Contactless pickups are required at cafés, restaurants and bars.
Gatherings at a home can have up to 25 people.
At gatherings held at other venues, there can be up to 25 people based on 1-metre physical distancing.
There will be distance learning for tertiary education.
You cannot visit gyms and close customer contact businesses, like hairdressers.
More information on life at Red is on our website: https://covid19.govt.nz/traffic-lights/life-at-red/
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VACCINE PASSES NOW REQUIRED
11 January 2021, 4pm
Following a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the South Canterbury region, a My Vaccine Pass will now be required to enter the Council’s Main Office, Waimate District Library, Waimate Event Centre and the Norman Kirk Memorial Swimming Pool.
Initially, vaccine passes were not required until Monday 17 January 2022, however with a confirmed case now in our region, this move has been brought forward to Wednesday 12 January from opening. Due to the presence of COVID-19, this requirement will NOW INCLUDE the swimming pool. While the decision to use vaccine passes for the pool was reversed prior to Christmas, Council’s Leadership Team previously agreed that should COVID-19 be reported within the region, a My Vaccine Pass will be required for entry.
Therefore, to enter any of the above premises, please ensure you have your My Vaccine Pass at hand, continue mask use, scan the QR tracing code and maintain social distancing.
At this stage, vaccine passes will not be required for the Waimate Lakes Camping Area, campgrounds, public toilets, resource recovery park or parks and reserves – but again, this decision may be reassessed in the event further cases are reported in the coming days, weeks or months.
In these challenging times, we ask that you respect our staff and adhere to the guidelines set out.
If you are feeling unwell, or have any related symptoms, please stay at home.
Thank you for your patience, cooperation and understanding on this matter.
Stay safe.
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WE’RE MOVING TO ORANGE
HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
2 DECEMBER 2021
As of Friday 3 December, our region moves into ORANGE under the Government’s new Traffic Light System. So with alert levels now becoming a thing of the past, here’s a quick overview of what life at orange looks like moving forward?
Scanning will be required, as will masks on flights and public transport, and in taxis, retail and public venues.
Public facilities and retail will be open with capacity limits and education providers will be open with public health measures in place. If vaccination passes are used, there will be no gathering limits.
If they are not used, limits of 50 people will apply. Hospitality businesses not requiring passes will have to operate contactless. Close-contact businesses such as gyms can only operate with vaccination passes, no exception.
So what does this mean for Council services and facilities?
From 17 January 2022, Vaccine Passes will be required to enter the Local Government Centre, Waimate District Library, Waimate Event Centre and the Waimate Dog Pound.
Between now and then, it’s business as usual under the orange framework – with mask use and QR code tracing still required at all locations. The Vaccine Pass will not apply to the Waimate Lakes Camping Area, Norman Kirk Memorial Swimming Pool, campgrounds, resource recovery park, public toilets or parks and reserves.
To learn more about Orange, visit https://www.covid19.govt.nz/orange
Thanks for playing your part Waimate District.
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Council Services and Facilities
Alert Level 2 - Everything you need to know
Here’s everything you need to know about Council’s services and facilities throughout the Waimate District;
Main Office
The main office at 125 Queen Street will reopen to the public, with all visitors expected to wear masks, scan the QR code or record your movement as part of your manual tracing efforts. Council’s normal operating hours will resume from 8am to 4.30pm (Monday to Friday).
Customer Service
Our customer service team will be on hand via phone on 03 689 0000 or email council@waimatedc.govt.nz - Our afterhours service will also be available.
Library
The Waimate District Library will reopen (including Saturday), with the restriction of 10 people at any one time and mask use mandatory. This will be enforced by library staff and we ask that you respect these safety measures. Again, please scan the QR code and sign in as required.
Please note, the library will be closed daily between 12pm and 2pm to allow for surface cleaning. The library will then reopen again through to closing.
Kerbside Rubbish and Recycling
All kerbside rubbish and recycling will continue as per normal.
Rural Recycling Stations
All rural recycling stations will again be available to use.
Resource Recovery Park
The Resource Recovery Park will resume normal operating hours from Wednesday 8 September, 10.30am. Please follow all instructions, wear a mask and comply with social distancing.
EFTPOS only - no cash accepted during Level 2.
Public Toilets
All public toilets will reopen, with the exception of St Andrews (scheduled to reopen on Thursday 9 September)
Playgrounds
All playgrounds will reopen, albeit gradually. Council’s parks and reserves team will be cleaning and sanitising all playground equipment before removing the tape and allowing public access. Thank you for your patience as this process takes place.
Waimate Event Centre
Use of the Waimate Event Centre will resume and bookings accepted, with some limitations on numbers.