Council Alerts
This page shows 'alerts' the Council has published as media statements regarding COVID-19. At times we may publish other alerts here that are important to our residents, for example road closures due to flooding. If you wish to only see COVID-19 updates, filter by COVID-19.
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Monro Street car park closed to walkers/vehicles
The Monro Street car park is closed to walkers/vehicles until further notice.
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Taylor River Pathway
Improvement work along the Taylor River Reserve shared path between the Beaver Road and Monro Street footbridges will take place from 3 June 2020 until mid-July 2020.
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Marlborough’s initial economic recovery response plan unveiled
A first phase economic recovery response plan has been released detailing 60 projects and initiatives to offset the initial impacts of COVID-19 on Marlborough businesses and jobs.
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Council reception reopens at reduced hours
Council’s reception reopened its office doors in Blenheim this morning with reduced hours of 10.00 am to 4.00 pm and a different way of working.
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Two hours free parking until 30 June
At this morning’s Council meeting, Councillors decided to offer two hours free parking in all of the Council’s car park spaces in Blenheim and Picton until 30 June.
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Top restaurant shares re-opening tips
Leading Marlborough restaurant owner Liz Buttimore is hearing some local food outlets are confused or worried they will get the rules wrong in reopening under Level 2 restrictions.
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Marlborough District Council services at Alert Level 2
With the switch to Alert Level 2 on Thursday 14 May, a number of Council services will reopen. There will still be some restrictions at our libraries and customer services centres.
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Shots in the arm for Marlborough businesses
A campaign to ‘support local and buy local’ and another to get early domestic visitors back to our region are in a package of COVID-19 economic recovery projects recommended to councillors this week.
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New roading contract gets underway in the midst of COVID-19
The seven-year roading contract in Marlborough that was awarded as a 50/50 joint venture between Fulton Hogan and HEB Construction officially started on 1 April.
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Resource consent demand drives duty planner service improvements
Marlborough District Council’s Duty Planner Service helps people who are applying for a resource consent to understand the Resource Management Act’s requirements for their project.
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Secondary emergency during COVID-19
Marlborough Civil Defence and Emergency Management have developed plans for what we might have to do if we experienced a second emergency while under COVID-19 restrictions.
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Further support for ratepayers agreed
Today’s Planning, Finance and Community Committee meeting discussed a range of measures to help ratepayers whose finances may have been affected by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Final call for Annual Plan feedback
With just five days to go before submissions close on this year’s 2020-21 Annual Plan Update, Council is encouraging Marlburians to have their say.
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Picton Ferry Terminal update
KiwiRail is in the early stages of planning to replace the current fleet of three ferries with two new, large rail-enabled ferries from 2024.
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Marlborough District Council services at Alert Level 3
As we switch to Alert Level 3 on Tuesday 28 April, a number of Council services will be restarting. Some services will remain closed however, including public toilets and playgrounds.
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Upcoming meetings
At COVID-19 Alert Level 4 or 3, Council and Committee meetings will not be able to be open to the public.
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Council’s online business continues
Did you know you can do a lot of the things you would usually come into Council for online? Even though Council’s offices are closed at the moment, its online services are up and running as usual.
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Kerbside collection on public holidays
Kerbside collections that fall on a public holiday will now be picked up on that public holiday, not an alternative day as previously occurred.
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COVID-19 fare reduction for Total Mobility customers
As part of the national response to COVID-19, the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has implemented a fare reduction for Total Mobility customers.
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Sounds Air – a message from Mayor John Leggett
Last week I sent a letter to the Minister of Transport Hon Phil Twyford asking him to take urgent action to ensure Sounds Air, can keep its operations going.
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Stay home this Anzac weekend
The Marlborough Harbourmaster is urging people to stay home, and not to head out on the boat or visit the bach this Anzac weekend.
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Council services on Anzac Day and Monday 27 April
Although Anzac Day is commemorated on Saturday 25 April 2020 – the public holiday is observed on Monday 27 April. This has some effect on the Council services outlined below.
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Stand at dawn this Anzac Day
Even though public Anzac Day services are unable to go ahead, it doesn’t mean the tradition of remembering and commemorating our veterans and service personnel should be cancelled too.
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Anzac Day message from Mayor John Leggett
Anzac Day is an important event in our community. The turnout to the services held around our region reflects the increasing interest in this national day.
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Boosted Community Grants Fund opens
A total of $500,000 is available this year to sports, recreation, heritage, environment, arts, culture, social services and welfare organisations.
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COVID-19 welfare support
The Council’s Civil Defence and Emergency Management Welfare Team is supporting the regional response to COVID-19.
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Ōpaoa Loop herbicide spray application
As part of the Ōpaoa River Loop's annual weed maintenance, an application of the herbicide Reglone is being applied to the water surface of the Ōpaoa Loop from Monday 27 April 2020.
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Civic Honours Award – nominations extension
Following the COVID-19 outbreak, the nomination period has been extended. Nominations must now be received by 5.00 pm on Friday 5 June 2020.
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Positive Ageing – staying mentally healthy
During this time of uncertainty your emotional and mental well-being is important. It is normal to feel stressed or lonely when self-isolating, but there are some things you can do to feel better.
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Caseys Creek stopbank work resumes
Work on the completion of the Caseys Creek stopbank started again this week.
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Be a responsible dog owner during lockdown
Whether you’ve got two legs or four, if you’re out exercising with your family, all members, including your dog, need to stay in your ‘bubble’.
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Marlborough’s economic recovery from COVID-19 gears up
The new group to lead Marlborough’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 crisis has been formed, held its first meeting (via Zoom) and started work.
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Mayor thanks wine industry
Marlborough Mayor John Leggett has praised the local wine industry for successfully handling the 2020 vintage under the extreme circumstances created by COVID-19.
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Upcoming Council and Committee meetings
If New Zealand remains at COVID-19 Alert Level 4 or 3, Council and Committee meetings will not be open to the public.
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Message from Mayor John Leggett – stay home this long weekend
Mayor John Leggett is urging Marlburians to stay home, stay local and stay safe this Easter weekend.
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Marlborough recovery: infrastructure to lead the way
Marlborough District Council has a key role to play in countering and recovering from the serious economic effects of the international COVID-19 crisis.
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Council support to get Marlborough through COVID-19
Over the past few weeks Council has focussed on a range of measures to help Marlborough get through COVID-19 and allow the region to hit the ground running once the lockdown is over.
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Positive Ageing - don't be afraid to ask for help
There is a range of help at hand for people in our community including assistance with shopping. If you’re over 70 or have a medical condition you’re advised not to go to the grocery store.
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Council services over Easter
Council’s off-peak bus services in Blenheim, Picton and Renwick that have been operating during the COVID-19 lockdown period will not operate on Good Friday or Easter Monday.
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Stay home this Easter
The Marlborough Harbourmaster is urging people to stay home, and not to head out on the boat or visit the bach this Easter.
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Marlborough recovery: infrastructure to lead the way
Marlborough District Council has a key role to play in countering and recovering from the serious economic effects of the international COVID-19 crisis.
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Annual Plan update – Have your say
Council has released its 2020-21 Annual Plan Update and Marlburians are encouraged to have their say. Submissions must be received by 5.00 pm on Monday 4 May 2020.
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Wither Hills open, mountain bike tracks and playgrounds closed
Following a spate of cooler temperatures and some rain, the upper tracks of the Wither Hills Farm Park have been reopened. Mountain bike parks, public toilets and playgrounds are closed.
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Kerbside collection on public holidays
Kerbside collections that fall on a public holiday will now be picked up on that public holiday, not an alternative day as previously occurred.
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Don’t deliver items to op shops during lockdown
Please do not drop off any items to your local op shop during the current lockdown.
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Positive Ageing – look out for each other
As we all continue to follow the Government’s directive to reduce the spread of COVID-19, some older people in our community may be feeling particularly isolated.
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Marlborough District Libraries direct to you
Marlborough District Libraries may be closed but there are thousands of ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, newspapers and more for Marlburians to access online.
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Take care when walking in Havelock
The move to COVID-19 Level 4 last week resulted in work on installing the Havelock water meter boxes being put on hold. This is not considered essential work during the lockdown period.
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Greater connectivity for Canvastown and Pelorus Bridge
Canvastown is one of the latest communities to benefit from new wireless rural broadband and mobile services.
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Keep dogs in your bubble and on a lead
Whether you’ve got two legs or four, if you’re out exercising with your family, all members, including your dog, need to stay in your ‘bubble’.
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Don’t flush your wet wipes
Council Operations and Maintenance Engineer Stephen Rooney is urging people not to flush wet wipes down the toilet.
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Wither Hills and Victoria Domain mountain bike parks to close
Following recent rainfall and discussion with the Marlborough Mountain Bike Club, Council has decided to close mountain bike parks in Blenheim’s Wither Hills Farm Park and Picton’s Victoria Domain.
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Council support to get Marlborough through COVID-19
Mayor John Leggett says this week’s full Council meeting on Thursday will offer a range of measures to help Marlborough get through the COVID-19 crisis in the short and longer term.
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Use kerbside services, don’t visit the transfer stations
Residents in Blenheim and Picton are urged to use the kerbside rubbish and recycling services rather than traveling to transfer stations.
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Wither Hills tracks reopen, public toilets and playgrounds close
All the region’s parks and reserves are open for use, including from today the upper tracks of the Wither Hills Farm Park. Public toilets and playgrounds are closed.
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Observe the lockdown and save lives – Mayor John Leggett
Marlborough Mayor John Leggett is urging everyone to observe the COVID-19 lockdown for the sake of the community.
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Don’t take the boat and don’t go to the bach
The Marlborough Harbourmaster, Port Marlborough, Police and many of New Zealand’s authorities are telling boaties not to try to take vessels out on to the water during the Level 4 COVID-19 response.
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Marlborough bus services update
Off-peak bus services in Blenheim, Picton and Renwick will continue to operate as normal, while commuter services have been cancelled until further notice.
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Rubbish and recycling services during the COVID-19 event
With immediate effect due to COVID-19, some changes in rubbish and recycling services supplied by council will apply.
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Some Blenheim and Renwick commuter bus services cancelled
As a result of staff shortages brought about by COVID-19 work restrictions, Blenheim commuter and Renwick commuter bus services have, with immediate effect, been cancelled until further notice.
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Council focuses on lifeline services as country locks down on COVID-19
Marlborough District Council is completing its planned transition to the provision of critical lifeline services, and moving most of its non-critical staff to working from home.
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Marlborough library services update
Marlborough District Library, Blenheim and Picton Library and Service Centre are closed as a precaution to slow the spread of COVID-19.
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Council announces closure of public facilities
Marlborough District Council has confirmed today that many of Marlborough’s community facilities will be closed to the public as a precaution to slow the spread of COVID-19.
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Marlborough Pandemic Group update
The Marlborough Pandemic Group met again today to discuss the COVID-19 crisis and share the latest information about the economic challenges now facing the Marlborough region.
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Council eyes rates freeze in light of COVID-19
This morning’s Planning, Finance and Community (PFC) Committee discussed a range of agenda items, including Council’s response to the threat of COVID-19.
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Marlborough District Council responds to COVID-19
Marlborough District Council has taken a close look at its services and operations to ensure they are ready in case the coronavirus develops in the Marlborough community.
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COVID-19 - Events at Council’s parks and reserves
If there are less than 500 attendees and the event organisers have a health and safety management plan that aligns with current Ministry of Health guidelines for COVID-19, they can go ahead.
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Kenepuru Road - new seal work
New seal work will be undertaken on two sections of Kenepuru Road between Ohauparuparu Bay (Taradale) and Waitaria Bay from 27 January to 9 April.