Waipā residents continue to spend local despite restrictions
Spending activity has been strong in 2021 with Waipā spending 9.2 percent higher than 2019 levels, compared to a 1.5 percent national rise on average, as reported today at Waipa District Council’s Strategic Planning and Policy Committee meeting.
Waipā District Councillors discussed the district’s economic growth, presented as part of the Annual Plan update report. The report by Brad Olsen, Principal Planner and Director of Infometrics Limited, showed Waipā’s resilience amidst the current COVID-19 conditions.
Councillors praised the Waipā community for supporting local businesses during a tough time.
“Our card spending has more than tripled the Waikato Regional growth average. It is encouraging to see our community buying local,” said Te Awamutu councillor Lou Brown.
“Residents are making a conscious effort to spend within Waipā which is helping our local businesses that have been hit hard by the pandemic.”
Alert Level 3 Step 2, which starts 11:59pm tonight, allows for retail shops and public facilities to reopen from tomorrow morning.
Physical distancing, face masks and contact tracing are required when entering retail stores and public facilities.
Waipā District Council customer service counters, Te Awamutu Museum and the Waipā District Libraries in Cambridge and Te Awamutu, also reopen on Wednesday morning.
Library Supervisor Rachel Newnes said the librarians have missed seeing customers and are very pleased to be able to open again.
“There will be restrictions in place to keep everyone who visits the library safe. We have limits on numbers and people will be confined to 20 minutes in the libraries. This gives everyone an equal opportunity to enjoy the facility while following COVID-19 restrictions.”
Libraries will be opening under the reduced hours of 9am-5pm Monday to Friday and 9.30am-1pm Saturday. Te Awamutu Museum will be open at its regular hours of 10am - 4pm Monday to Friday and 10am - 2pm Saturday.
Alert Level 3 Step 2 has come at a perfect time for the museum with a new exhibition going in the front porch gallery next week.
Also coming at the perfect time is a restart of Council’s full recycling services, with the assisted and narrow streets services back in action at Step 2. Operations Team Leader, Jennifer Braithwaite reminded residents to be vigilant with abiding by recycling guidelines and only recycling clean recyclable items in the appropriate wheelie bin to ensure staff processing recycling could remain safe.
“Last lockdown we had a lot of items that should not have been placed in wheelie bins unfortunately making their way in there. We know Waipā residents are very capable recyclers and we would love to see them put this in practice at all times.”
Residents are also encouraged to be patient when visiting Council facilities and follow the hygiene practices in place.
Alert Level 3 Step 2 also permits outdoor gatherings of up to 25 people with the removal of the two-household restriction. For more information about what is permitted at Alert Level 3 Step 2, head to covid19.govt.nz.