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News and Weather
School Bus
School bus services provide pick-ups and drop-offs on the state highway at the entrance to Te Karaka Drive. The nearest connections for public transport services are at Te Puna north of the roundabout and near the 4 Square shop or Omokoroa.
Details of bus timetables are available here or various intra/inter-regional service providers (e.g. Inter-City). The Bay of Plenty Regional Council is responsible for public transport services and will vary their timetable from time-to-time.
Utilities
Water: Western Bay of Plenty District Council makes available town water supply to each property. A meter fitted to each property and residents will be charged according to the amount used.
Power: In the event of a power outage you should contact your energy provider in the first instance.
Street lighting: from time-to-time a street light may no longer be working.
Telephone network: the wires (copper cables) and fibre are owned by Chorus. In the event of an outage you should contact your service provider in the first instance.
Effluent disposal: Each property is required to maintain a septic tank system which complies with the Bay of Plenty Regional Council standards and guidelines for effluent disposal systems.
Disaster and Major Occurrences
You, and your immediate family are your priority. Civil Defence recommends that your family or household agree on a Household Emergency Plan. A Household emergency Plan template is available here.
The Civil Defence website is one way to be up to date with what events are happening in the Bay of Plenty; it also has different options for you to be able to stay informed e.g. text alerting, emergency mobile alerts, social media, Red Cross hazards apps and radio stations.
In the event of a natural disaster (e.g. Tsunami) residents should assemble at the Te Puna Quarry Park (walk or carpool). Leave a note on your door with your contact information, your `, with your intended destination and the date/time. In case of Evacuation, you should also leave your door unlocked to assist first responders in clearing your house and defense if required.
Medical or Emergency Event. Call 111
In many instances the Omokoroa Fire Brigade First Response team are best placed to respond rapidly; for this reason, residents are advised to remind the 111 operator to notify this team.
In the event of a medical emergency each member of your household should know to dial 111 and remind the operator that the Omokoroa Fire Brigade First Response team are closest to this community.
The manual access code for the gate is available to both St John’s and the Omokoroa First Response team.
Non Emergency for Police. Call 105
To contact Police for non-emergencies: call 105 or go online here.
Rubbish Collection
Rubbish is collected on a Wednesday (including most public holidays), usually in the afternoon. Glass is no longer accepted kerbside.
Official green bags are available from most grocery shops/supermarkets.
There is an option to use Waste Management, formerly EGB Environmental Green Bins (EGB).
The nearest glass collection point is in the Fresh Choice supermarket in Omokoroa.
Green waste disposal options include the Tauranga transfer stations at Maleme Street, Greerton or Te Maunga, Mt Maunganui; or to the WBoPDC (administered by the Omokoroa Lions Club) collection point at 336 Omokoroa Road near the Omokoroa Settler’s Hall between 2pm and 4pm Saturdays and Wednesdays.
Rural Fire
If you are planning to light a rubbish fire on your section, please comply with WBoPDC fire permit rules and be considerate of the impact on neighbors.
Predator Bay of Plenty
Tides Reach members are working with Predator Free Bay of Plenty to foster and preserve New Zealand wildlife. Members have deployed rodent traps and actively removing as many destructive pests as possible. To become part of the movement, click here.
Department of Conservation - Local Walks