October 2020 Update

Following on from the successful model already in place in Thames and other locations in the Waikato, Waikato Regional Councillor Denis Tegg has been holding meetings with Community Boards and interested groups to gauge support for town-based transport solutions.

Mr Tegg has accepted an invitation from WRRA to make a public presentation of his proposal to Mercury Bay Community Board. The original proposal was to run a local loop bus between 9am and 3pm, which would service the ferry, supermarkets, doctors, pharmacies, Wharekaho (Simpson’s Beach/Campground end), Centennial Drive, Golf Club and back to the ferry. We have asked that the times and costings be revised to include Moewai Park Road and South Highway, Bike Park to the school and return. Children living in those areas are not eligible for school bus subsidies, so they get left behind.

The meeting will be advertised as widely as possible—all welcome.

Mercury Bay Area School, Mercury Bay Community Board, Thames Coromandel District Council, local business owner/operators, Mercury Bay Business Association, GreyPower, Lions and Lionesses, and members of the public will be invited. We want to get the widest possible community input into proposed routes and timetables to ensure that we get it right from the start. Please feel free to pass this invitation on to anyone you feel might be interested.

Where: Coghill Theatre (Monkey House)

When: Tuesday 10th November, 4pm

We’ll be looking for input from local people on the proposed times and routes. If we can get this loop bus off the ground, then Gold Cardholders will travel free between 9am and 3pm.

Space in the venue is limited to around 80 people, so an indication of your attendance (and numbers) would help with planning to make sure we have enough room. Please email Kerryn Wakelin at [email protected] to register your interest.

Draft options of how the bus loop might run. What do you think? We need your input on this project.


Draft option covering the areas which are not included in the current school bus route.