Public toilets, playgrounds and some other council-run services and facilities will reopen under alert level two, starting today (Wednesday September 8).

Local libraries, including Hāwea and Wānaka, will also open this morning with some new protocols in place, including a limit on the number of customers in the libraries at any one time; and parking enforcement will return to normal, meaning the end of the free parking permitted under alert level three. 

Council’s Wānaka office will reopen tomorrow (Thursday September 9), though QLDC recommends using the website or phone line for simple inquiries.

“Where possible people are encouraged to visit the QLDC website as a first port of call as many transactions can be completed, and information found, on the site,” QLDC said.

Kerbside collections of rubbish and recycling will operate as scheduled and clean and contamination-free mixed and glass recycling will be processed, but council-run community green waste sites will not operate under alert level two.

Local libraries will also reopen with protocols in place. PHOTO: Wānaka App

There will be a staged reopening of activities at the Wānaka Recreation Centre but “most parks facilities such as playgrounds, skate parks, pump tracks and drinking fountains will be reopened with increased cleaning procedures and physical distancing signage in place,” QLDC said.

Meetings of the council, Wānaka Community Board and committees will continue to take place primarily via video conferencing, with a minimal presence in person “so that elected members and staff can observe physical distancing,” QLDC said. 

Members of the public can watch a live-stream of meetings via social media and anyone wishing to speak at public forum will be invited to do so via video conference.

Flights will resume at Wānaka Airport from today. PHOTO: Supplied

Local airports will also reopen, with Air New Zealand and Jetstar resuming scheduled flights to Queenstown Airport from today, and Sounds Air again operating flights between Christchurch and Wānaka Airport.

Find more information about QLDC at alert level two here and more about Queenstown and Wānaka Airports at alert level two here and here.