This guidance has been developed with the local government sector based on the decisions the Government has made for Alert Level 4. It is intended ...
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This guidance has been developed with the local government sector based on the
decisions the Government has made for Alert Level 4.
It is intended to support consistency across New Zealand in the delivery of council
services.
Guidance as at 18 August 2021GUIDANCE FOR TRANSITIONING THROUGH ALERT LEVELS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Function ALERT LEVEL 4 ALERT LEVEL 3
Eliminate Restrict
NB functions are Strong restrictions to limit all people movement Further restrictions on activities, including at workplaces and socially, to
focused on the and contact to contain community transmission address a high risk of transmission within New Zealand.
functions defined as and outbreaks.
Stay at home, other than for essential personal movement, and going to
Essential Services and
Stay at home, other than for essential personal work/school.
those where there is
movement and doing essential work.
interaction with the Stay in extended bubble, which can now include close family or
public –not corporate Stay in immediate household bubble. caregivers.
/support/policy People should keep 2 metres apart at all times People should keep 2 metres apart outside home where possible (apart
functions as these will outside home, including at workplaces. This from with people within their extended bubble). This requirement does
be subject to general requirement does not apply to emergency and not apply to emergency and frontline public services (e.g. healthcare).
advice from the frontline public services (e.g. healthcare).
Government re working In a controlled environment such as a workplace, 1 metre distancing is
remotely, based on required
Alert Levels For more information on operating safely in workplaces, further
guidance is available at: https://www.business.govt.nz/covid-19
Gatherings All gatherings cancelled (essential work and going to Gatherings of up to 10 people at a time only for wedding services, funerals
supermarket are not considered gatherings). and tangihanga.
Wedding receptions and other celebrations are not allowed. Consumption
of food/drink not permitted.
Workplaces, education facilities, public transport and supermarkets are
not considered gatherings.
Additional conditions on gatherings:
• Physical distancing and infection prevention and control requirements
must be met.
• All gatherings must record attendees to ensure contact tracing can be
conducted if necessary.
• No participants allowed who have COVID-19 symptoms or who need to
be in isolation/quarantine for any reason.
Guidance as at 18 August 2021GUIDANCE FOR TRANSITIONING THROUGH ALERT LEVELS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Function ALERT LEVEL 4 ALERT LEVEL 3
Eliminate Restrict
Public venues Public venues closed (e.g. libraries, museums, All public venues closed (e.g. museums, cinemas, food courts, gyms, pools,
cinemas, food courts, gyms, pools, amusement amusement parks, playgrounds, farmers’ markets).
parks). Public open spaces (e.g. parks) may be used, but people need to maintain
physical distancing outside their bubbles.
Territorial authority functions
COVID19 risk management practices apply – COVID19 risk management practices apply – industry/activity specific
industry/activity specific guidance developed as guidance developed as necessary
necessary
Council offices • Remote working • Everyone should work remotely unless it is not possible
• Council offices can only open for staff if:
o Workers cannot work from home, and
o Workplaces are operating safely, and
o Customers are not allowed on premises, and
o Council staff can work without physical contact with
Public/Customers
• “Operating safely” means:
o Complying with Alert Level 3 settings, and
o Meeting appropriate public health requirements for their
workplace, including for workers (e.g. putting up physical
barriers), and
o Fulfilling all other health and safety obligations
• If these measures cannot be taken, staff must not go to work, and
premises should remain closed
Operation and • Essential service Most staff continue to work remotely
maintenance of • Workstream to ensure continuity of service
drinking water and and supply of key chemicals; focus on Operational sites
wastewater services keeping networks operational • Site separation continues with physical distancing of staff on sites
Operations activities reinstated
• Maintenance practices on linear assets (pipes etc)
Guidance as at 18 August 2021GUIDANCE FOR TRANSITIONING THROUGH ALERT LEVELS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Function ALERT LEVEL 4 ALERT LEVEL 3
Eliminate Restrict
• Planned maintenance and connections work on the retail network
• Pump station cleaning where required
• Maintenance of valves and equipment
• All non-essential work continues to be deferred
• Avoid activities that interrupt domestic supplies where possible
• Reactive maintenance extended
Developer Services Reinstated
• Compliance and inspections – including subdivision connection works,
subject to restoration of housing construction works
• Connections of water and meters to address outstanding connection
applications – subject to wastewater being connected and drainlayers
etc. services also restored
Meter Reading (where relevant and with safety measures in place
including precautions taken to prevent spread of disease between
dwellings)
• Reading cycles start again
Active Construction Sites
• Active construction sites reopen where safe work practices and
physical distancing can be maintained
• Safe work practice guidance can be found here:
https://www.building.govt.nz/covid-19/
• Continue design work and project development work where possible
Solid waste including • Essential service • Residential kerbside and essential service-related commercial solid
transfer stations • Residential kerbside solid waste collection waste collection continues
• Commercial collections only for waste and • Collection of recycling may increase in some cities/districts (this may
recycling that supports other essential service still end up in the waste stream after collection depending on MRF
activities
Guidance as at 18 August 2021GUIDANCE FOR TRANSITIONING THROUGH ALERT LEVELS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Function ALERT LEVEL 4 ALERT LEVEL 3
Eliminate Restrict
• Collection of recycling in some cities/districts operations and restricted/international demand/domestic – market
• MRFs operational in some cities/districts demand for low value materials)
• MRFs operational in some cities/districts where physical distancing
protocols can be maintained, and manual processing risks can be
managed
Transfer stations
• Transfer stations and green rubbish transfer stations/facilities
permitted (to avoid fly tipping, vermin control) if safe operating
procedures are able to be implemented and access including traffic
management can be adequately controlled (customers should be
reminded that they should not travel outside their local areas to
access these facilities)
Resource recovery centres
• Bin drop for separated collections of bottles, paper, cardboard
permitted if access can be controlled, commercial collections and
processing of the materials is available within the district/region and
operations must be safe (COVID compliant). Household item drop offs
are not permitted.
• Eco shops closed
Cemeteries and • Essential service • Cemetery grounds can remain open with restrictions on operation of
crematoria • Cemeteries remain open with restrictions on cemeteries
operation of cemeteries; COVID19 risk • Open to funerals and tangi only of up to 10 people if they can operate
management practices. Only family bubble can safely, and:
attend funerals o Physical distancing and infection prevention and control
• See Ministry of Health guidelines for more requirements must be met
information o Must record attendees to ensure contact tracing can be
conducted if necessary
Guidance as at 18 August 2021GUIDANCE FOR TRANSITIONING THROUGH ALERT LEVELS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Function ALERT LEVEL 4 ALERT LEVEL 3
Eliminate Restrict
o No participants allowed who have COVID-19 symptoms or who
need to be in isolation/quarantine for any reason
**Noting this will be difficult to manage, guidance is being developed
Animal services • Essential service • Flexible working practices – working remotely. Only responding to
o caring for • Good physical distancing and COVID19 risk urgent requests for service, e.g. dog attacks, wandering stock, with
impounded dogs management practices good physical distancing and COVID19 risk management practices
o investigating dog • Animal shelters closed to public, • Animal shelters closed to public
attacks and Staff caring for animals currently housed. Good • Staff caring for animals currently housed. Good physical distancing
seizures for physical distancing and COVID19 risk and COVID19 risk management practices
police management practices • Animal Management Officers responding to priority complaints.
o welfare of • Some Animal Management Officers responding Good physical distancing and COVID19 risk management practices.
animals to priority complaints. Good physical distancing • Restart registration processes where these can be undertaken in a
recovering and COVID19 risk management practices contactless way
• Some stock control
Maintenance of public • Toilets only on main freight routes open (and • Toilets only on main freight routes open (and where requested by
toilets where requested by essential services) essential services)
• Increased cleaning frequency • Increased cleaning frequency
Social housing • Essential service • COVID19 risk management practices in place to operate safely
• COVID19 risk management practices Capital programme (new builds or empty units)
• Essential /emergency maintenance only with • Stand up planned capital programme dependent on:
COVID19 risk management practices o Supply chain (availability)
o Contractor availability
o H&S plan (ability to maintain distance and hygiene, tracking)
o Limited work group on sites provided they strictly limit person to
person contact and allow contact tracing
Maintenance
• Priority maintenance with COVID19 risk management practices to
operate safely
Guidance as at 18 August 2021GUIDANCE FOR TRANSITIONING THROUGH ALERT LEVELS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Function ALERT LEVEL 4 ALERT LEVEL 3
Eliminate Restrict
Roading/highways • Essential service: roading maintenance and • All freight can be distributed
repairs to keep the roads safe • Personal and interregional travel remains restricted
• Procurement continuing remotely • Essential services will continue.
• Works that can be performed following the COVID19 risk
management practices re physical distancing may also be viable
depending on advice/guidance and procedures.
• e.g. Road rehabs; road maintenance, small capital projects.
** Please refer to Ministry of Transport for up to date guidance as issues
evolve
Noise Control • Councils should accept and triage noise • At Alert Level 3 and below any councils which suspended noise
complaints via their call centre or other normal control services during Alert Level 4 should resume them. The service
means that are operating level should be close to that provided during business as usual,
remotely. Information should be made publicly though attempts should be made to resolve noise issues remotely
available on council websites to enable people before attending a site (for example, via a phone call if contact
to direct queries relating to noise control to information is available), or there may be a modified threshold for
council in the first instance. deciding to undertake a site attendance.
• Where possible, councils should aim to resolve • Police will not attend noise calls unless there is a breach of an
noise complaints remotely. Noise officers Excessive Noise Direction, an escalated incident (such as threatening
should only attend sites where this is already behaviour), or the noise is associated with a suspected breach of
part of the service level being provided under requirements relating to gatherings of people.
level 4, e.g. where security firms are already • At all Alert Levels, Councils are reminded of their duties toward
supporting and are taking all of the following employees and contractors as PCBUs under the Health and Safety at
measures: Work Act 2015, and their broader duty of care to the public. Health
o minimise, or eliminate if possible, physical and safety plans which take all reasonably practicable steps to reduce
interactions among staff and with and or eliminate COVID-19 transmission risks are essential in order to
between the public protect noise control officers and the members of the public with
o ensure appropriate health, hygiene and whom they interact.
safety measures are in place • Health and safety plans must incorporate protocols for, at a
minimum:
Guidance as at 18 August 2021GUIDANCE FOR TRANSITIONING THROUGH ALERT LEVELS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Function ALERT LEVEL 4 ALERT LEVEL 3
Eliminate Restrict
o restrict activity to only what is ‘essential’ • Physical distancing – minimise, or eliminate where practical, physical
during the Alert Level 4 period. interactions among staff and with the public
• Council officers should contact police for o One officer per vehicle
assistance as they normally would following o If officers work in teams or pairs, these should be kept consistent
triaging. Police can issue excessive noise (a ‘work group’)
directions where they are attending a complaint o Appropriate PPE (if required)
at the request of a noise officer (s327(1) and
s328(3) of the Resource Management Act).
Councils should provide remote support for
these assessments and any notices to be issued.
**note new guidance on Alert Level Four
Council governance and • Meetings and public engagement to be held • Meetings and public engagement to be held remotely
decision making remotely
Pools • Closed • Closed to the public
Scheduled maintenance and capital programme
• Stand up planned capital programme dependent on:
o Supply chain (availability)
o Contractor availability
o H&S plan (ability to maintain distance and hygiene, tracking)
o Limited work group on sites provided they strictly limit person to
person contact and allow contact tracing
Guidance as at 18 August 2021GUIDANCE FOR TRANSITIONING THROUGH ALERT LEVELS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Function ALERT LEVEL 4 ALERT LEVEL 3
Eliminate Restrict
Libraries • Closed • Closed to the public
• Mobile and outreach services closed • Limited access to staff to enable priority work that cannot be done at
• All public programmes and venue bookings home, such as digitisation projects, if adequate measures in place re
cancelled physical distancing and contact tracing
• All return bins closed • Mobile and outreach services closed
Online services • All public programmes and venue bookings cancelled
• Some service continues online • All return bins closed
• Digital content available 24/7
• Sign up for a library membership online to allow Online services
you to access our digital online services. • Some service continues online
• Finger-tip (Phone) Library Service operating 7 • Digital content available 24/7
days • Free Wi-Fi available outside some libraries to be resumed where
appropriate measures are in place re physical distancing (to help with
Loans digital dive & visitors trapped in country with border controls)
• Loan period extended, unlimited renewals and • Take steps to avoid Wi-Fi users clustering in an unsafe way, e.g.
holds suspended messaging around distancing
• Finger-tip (Phone) Library Service operating 7 days
Loans
• Loan period extended, unlimited renewals and holds suspended
• All return bins closed
Galleries and Museums Closed • Closed to the public
• Online • Limited access to staff to enable priority work that cannot be done at
home, such as digitisation projects, if adequate measures in place re
physical distancing and contact tracing online service
Rec Centres, Gyms, Closed Closed
Stadia • Online services available e.g. workouts, stretch o Online service available, workouts, stretch classes etc
classes etc
• Construction sites closed
Guidance as at 18 August 2021GUIDANCE FOR TRANSITIONING THROUGH ALERT LEVELS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Function ALERT LEVEL 4 ALERT LEVEL 3
Eliminate Restrict
• Capital programme planning, design and Scheduled maintenance and capital programme
procurement and tendering continuing • Stand up capital programme dependent on:
remotely o Supply chain (availability)
o Contractor availability
o H&S plan (ability to maintain distance and hygiene, tracking)
o Limited work group on sites provided they strictly limit person to
person contact and allow contact tracing
Community Halls Closed Closed
• Capital programme planning, design and Scheduled maintenance and capital programme
procurement continuing remotely • Stand up capital programme dependent on:
o Supply chain (availability)
o Contractor availability
o H&S plan (ability to maintain distance and hygiene, tracking)
o Limited work group on sites provided they strictly limit person to
person contact and allow contact tracing
Playgrounds, Parks • Parks open. With Messaging re social distancing • Playgrounds & exercise equipment closed
• Carparks within parks closed for vehicle access, • Public toilets closed
pedestrian access open • Dog waste must be taken home and disposed of it in bin for normal
• Playgrounds & exercise equipment closed kerbside collection
• Public toilets closed • Below facilities open subject to council being satisfied sufficient
• Dog waste must be taken home and disposed of measures are in place to re messages about physical distancing:
in bin for normal kerbside collection o Parks open with messaging re social distancing
• Facilities within parks closed including the o Associated carparks open
visitor/information centres • All council-owned sports facilities e.g. clubrooms are closed
• Skeleton crew of essential workers checking • Full urban and regional park ranger service operating – with COVID19
parks daily, vermin control, fly dumping, fire risk management practices in place
hazard, bin emptying
• Wharfs and jetties closed Scheduled maintenance and capital programme
• Stand up planned capital programme dependent on:
Guidance as at 18 August 2021GUIDANCE FOR TRANSITIONING THROUGH ALERT LEVELS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Function ALERT LEVEL 4 ALERT LEVEL 3
Eliminate Restrict
o Supply chain (availability)
o Contractor availability
o H&S plan (ability to maintain distance and hygiene, tracking)
o Limited work group on sites provided they strictly limit person to
person contact and allow contact tracing
• Maintenance of facilities deemed as permitted exceptions
Sports Fields and Tracks Closed Closed
• All council-owned sports facilities e.g. • All council-owned sports facilities e.g. clubrooms are closed
clubrooms are closed
Camping Grounds and • Public camp sites closed • Public camp sites closed
Holiday Parks • Some holiday parks limited bookings for self- • Some holiday parks limited bookings for self-contained vehicles only
contained vehicles only • Some emergency provision for freedom campers – separate facilities.
• Some emergency provision for freedom No communal facilities open e.g. showers, toilets, kitchen or laundry
campers – separate facilities. No communal etc
facilities open e.g. showers, toilets, kitchen or • Note that restrictions on travel outside local area (with exceptions)
laundry etc mean freedom campers and others should not be moving or
• Temporary accommodation for self-isolation travelling
• Temporary accommodation for self-isolation
Call centre & Front Call centre Call centre
Counter services • Open remotely • Open remotely
Counter services Counter services
Closed • Controlled access (limited sites) if they can operate safely
• COVID19 risk management practices in place and recording for
contact tracing
Guidance as at 18 August 2021GUIDANCE FOR TRANSITIONING THROUGH ALERT LEVELS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Function ALERT LEVEL 4 ALERT LEVEL 3
Eliminate Restrict
Regulatory and • Staff working remotely • Staff continue to work remotely
licensing
As other businesses resume requiring inspections:
• Inspections and site visits to be arranged with limited interaction with
the public, appropriate physical distancing and contact tracing
measures in place
• Where services are necessary that cannot be conducted remotely and
require more than one staff member - Create a work group where
staff work in pairs/teams
Consenting functions • Continuation of all consenting services which • Continuation of all consenting services which can be provided by staff
(building and resource can be provided by staff working remotely at working remotely at home
consents) home • Where staff must work together, create a work group where staff
• Virtual hearings for resource consents with may work in pairs/teams undertaking the necessary health
remote appearances precautions (distancing, PPE etc)
• Virtual inspections where feasible. Where • Virtual hearings for resource consents
council employees are entering buildings and • Site inspections permitted provided arrangements made remotely
other sites to complete inspections for essential with COVID19 risk management practices applied Guidance on
services, COVID19 risk management practices practices for construction site visits is available at
applied https://www.chasnz.org/covid19
• Additional information for Councils on building and construction
related activities is available at https://www.building.govt.nz/covid-
19/
RMA plan making • Continuation of all plan making which can be • Continuation of all RMA plan making which can be provided by staff
provided by staff working remotely at home working remotely at home
• Virtual hearings for hearings with remote • Virtual hearings for plan changes
appearances
Property & Corporate All staff working remotely All staff working remotely
Facilities Management • Working with lessees remotely
• Many tenants eligible for relief package
Guidance as at 18 August 2021GUIDANCE FOR TRANSITIONING THROUGH ALERT LEVELS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Function ALERT LEVEL 4 ALERT LEVEL 3
Eliminate Restrict
Events Cancelled Cancelled
Community All staff working remotely All staff working remotely
Development
• Community Development team supporting • Community Development team supporting groups virtually
groups virtually
Environmental Health • All staff working remotely • Normal operation with staff working remotely
• Limited inspections with COVID19 risk management practices applied
• Where staff must work together, create a work group where staff
may work in pairs/teams and adopt COVID19 risk management
practices in place
Parking Services All staff working remotely Normal operation with ‘stay home if unwell’ and hygiene measures in
• Council-owned carpark buildings open and free place
• On street parking free • Where staff must work together, create a work group where staff
• Parking compliance team only reacting to may in pairs/teams
blocked vehicle entrances and serious road
hazards/safety issues
Regional Council functions
Public Transport • For the use of: • Service levels increased with appropriate measures to ensure
o essential and emergency workers COVID19 risk management practices re physical distancing, and
o members of the public accessing essential hygiene (refer to Ministry of Transport: Travel and Transport
services, specifically food, non-COVID-19 Guidance – to be placed online when confirmed)
related medical care and vets • Travel is allowed for the following essential personal movement in
o couples with shared custody moving children your local area:
between homes o Accessing local services and businesses,
o Going to work and school (only for those that have to)
o Low-risk recreation in local area
o To support extended bubble arrangements
o Travelling to permitted gatherings
Guidance as at 18 August 2021GUIDANCE FOR TRANSITIONING THROUGH ALERT LEVELS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Function ALERT LEVEL 4 ALERT LEVEL 3
Eliminate Restrict
• Travel between regions is allowed for some essential personal
movement:
o Workers travelling to do essential work,
o Going to work or school (only in neighbouring region),
o Shared bubble arrangements,
o Relocating a home or business,
o Those travelling for medical reasons,
o Emergencies and giving effect to court orders
o Those who have an exemption to travel because of compassionate
reasons,
o Foreign nationals leaving New Zealand (except Cook Strait ferries),
o New Zealanders resident in the Realm returning home, and
o People arriving in New Zealand from overseas and returning home
after 14 days’ isolation/quarantine at port of arrival (except air and
marine crew)
Biosecurity/biodiversity • Essential service: • Normal operation with staff working remotely
programmes - including • Biosecurity incursion response and eradication • Where staff must work together, create a work group where staff
predator control may work in pairs/teams and COVID19 risk management practices
programmes
Maritime navigational • Essential service: • Normal operation with staff working remotely
safety • Ensuring maritime navigational safety • Where staff must work together, create a work group where staff
may work in pairs/teams and COVID19 risk management practices
Flood and drought • Essential service: • Normal operation with staff working remotely
management, flood • Flood and drought management, flood • Where staff must work together, create a work group where staff
protection and land protection and land drainage may in pairs/teams and COVID19 risk management practices
drainage
Natural hazard event • Essential service: • Normal operation with staff working remotely
monitoring, response • Natural hazard event monitoring, response and • Where staff must work together, create a work group where staff
and recovery recovery (including 24/7 flood monitoring may work in pairs/teams and COVID19 risk management practices
programme)
Guidance as at 18 August 2021GUIDANCE FOR TRANSITIONING THROUGH ALERT LEVELS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Function ALERT LEVEL 4 ALERT LEVEL 3
Eliminate Restrict
Incident/pollution • Essential service: Incident/pollution response • Normal operation with staff working remotely
response including related enforcement • Where staff must work together, create a work group where staff
may work in pairs/teams and COVID19 risk management practices
Compliance monitoring • Essential service: • Normal operation with staff working remotely
programmes • Compliance monitoring programmes for high • Where staff must work together, create a work group where staff
risk activities as they relate to human, aquatic may work in pairs/teams and COVID19 risk management practices
and animal health
Environmental science • Essential service: • Normal operation with staff working remotely
and monitoring • Sampling and analysing water quality for safe • Where staff must work together, create a work group where staff
human activities including drinking water may work in pairs/teams and COVID19 risk management practices
Consenting functions • Continuation of all consenting services which • Continuation of all consenting services which can be provided by staff
(resource consents) can be provided by staff working remotely at working remotely at home
home • Where staff must work together, create a work group where staff
• Virtual hearings for resource consents with work in pairs/teams
remote appearances • Virtual hearings for resource consents
• Virtual inspections where feasible. Where • Site inspections permitted provided arrangements made remotely
council employees are entering buildings and with COVID19 risk management practices applied
other sites to complete inspections for essential
services, COVID19 risk management practices
applied
RMA plan making • Continuation of all plan making which can be • Continuation of all RMA plan making which can be provided by staff
provided by staff working remotely at home working remotely at home
• Virtual hearings for hearings with remote • Virtual hearings for plan changes
appearances
Sustainable land and • All staff working remotely – no field work • Normal operation with staff working remotely
water management undertaken • Where staff must work together, create a work group where staff
programmes may work in pairs/teams and COVID19 risk management practices
Guidance as at 18 August 2021GUIDANCE FOR TRANSITIONING THROUGH ALERT LEVELS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Function ALERT LEVEL 4 ALERT LEVEL 3
Eliminate Restrict
Regional parks/gardens • Closed • Open with warning signs re health measures e.g. social distancing
• Essential park/garden maintenance occurring • Essential park maintenance
• Staff practising good physical distancing and COVID19 risk
management practices
Education programmes • All staff working remotely – no school visits, • All staff working remotely – no school visits, virtual delivery of
virtual delivery of programmes programmes
Guidance as at 18 August 2021You can also read
