Coronavirus (COVID-19) Alert Level 1

From Monday 21 September at 11.59pm we're at Alert Level 1.

Key things to remember at Alert Level 1

• Face masks and coverings are not compulsory on public transport from Monday 22 August 2020. You can continue to wear one if you prefer. You can get a mask from these locations in Lower Hutt. For more guidelines about travelling on public transport please see the Metlink Website.
• Keep up good hand washing practices, using soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and drying thoroughly. Cough and sneeze into your elbow. Keep surfaces clean.
• If you or a family member are unwell please stay at home and contact Healthline on 0800 358 5453 or your GP about getting a test.
• If you are feeling unwell, please come back to see us another day. People at risk, the elderly or those with underlying illnesses should take extra precaution when leaving home.  You’re also welcome to message our Facebook page, email us, or ring our contact centre on 04 570 6666.

Contact tracing

Under Alert Level 1, we encourage you to continue tracking where you’ve been and who you’ve seen to help with contact tracing, if required.

If you haven't already, download the COVID tracer app. We'll continue to display the COVID tracer QR codes at our facilities.

Facilities

Open as usual. This includes:

• Administration Building Laings Road
• Community hubs - Koraunui Stokes Valley Community Hub and Wainuiomata Community Hub
• Community Halls
• Libraries - check the opening hours

• Pools

• Museums - The Dowse Art Museum and Petone Settlers’ Museum
• Walter Nash Centre - check Walter Nash Facebook for updates
• Pelorus Trust Sports House
• Ricoh Sports Centre
• Lower Hutt Events Centre.

Grounds, parks and playgrounds

• Parks, trails, sports fields and playgrounds (includes skate parks) - open as usual.
• Public toilets are open with increased cleaning in place.

Sports and recreation 

Recreation programmes and club sport can run under Alert Level 1. 

Services

• Animal services- open usual hours.
• Artesian water supply taps at Buick Street Petone, outside the Dowse and Waiwhetu - operating as usual.
• Cemeteries - open.
• Jetties and boat ramps - operating as usual.
• Naenae Village Market - TBC.
• Regulatory and licensing services - consents, environmental health, parking - usual hours operating as usual.
• Riverbank Market - Check the Riverbank Facebook page for updates.
• Rubbish and recycling - operating as usual. Community recycling stations at Kelson, Wainuiomata and Seaview are open. Naenae and Alicetown are currently closed.
• Silverstream landfill and Wainuiomata Cleanfill - open usual hours.

Business support

You are not alone - check out the Hutt Valley business support hub for information, support and resources to get your business through the impact of COVID-19.

The support hub is a partnership between the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, Hutt City Council and Upper Hutt City Council – connecting local businesses and people.  This is your way of finding up to date information, local expert advice, new ways to do things, new ways to connect and support each other.

There is also the Hutt Valley Business Covid-19 Support Facebook Group for local businesses to can ask questions and get support.

Rates help

Need help paying your rates? We may be able to help through a payment plan that we can agree with you. This is separate to government support for ratepayers like the rates rebate scheme and accommodation supplement. 

We've developed a new Rates Postponement Policy in response to the financial hardship being experienced by small business owners and residents during events including COVID-19. If you’re over-65 you can apply regardless of your financial situation. For the first time, small businesses can apply too. 

We strongly recommend paying your rates online where possible as we will be discouraging cash exchanges.

Other things we're doing 

• Cleaning and decontaminating hand rails, elevator buttons, EFTPOS machines, public facing areas, public toilets etc.
• Using online payment services wherever possible and avoiding cash transactions.

More information

The latest information can be found on the Unite Against COVID-19 website or the Unite Against COVID social media channels.

If you have any questions about Council facilities or services call us on 04 570 6666.