While the majority of Otago Regional Council (ORC) services have continued remotely during lockdown, some services are changing and resuming with the shift down to COVID-19 alert level 2.

In-person customer service points at Philip Laing House in Dunedin and on Terrace Junction in Queenstown will not be open on Wednesday, the first day of level 2, but will re-open on Thursday.

ORC’s customer service team are still available to help by phone or email: 0800 474 082, or customerservices@orc.govt.nz.

Dunedin customers are reminded that the Stafford Street customer service point has now closed, and the only location for in-person customer service in Dunedin is on the second floor of Philip Laing House, near the Exchange.

Under the new alert level 2 rules, visitors to our in-person customer service points must wear face coverings and sign in to record their visit for contact tracing purposes.

Public Transport

Public transport networks in Dunedin and Queenstown are resuming their normal timetables from tomorrow.

Masks remain mandatory on the bus, and QR codes are available on every bus for passengers to scan in using the NZ COVID Tracer app. Some drivers have exemptions from wearing masks.

Passengers will need to enter the bus at the front door again, but are encouraged to use a Bee Card and top up online to minimise interaction with drivers.

Standing on the bus will not be permitted at alert level 2, which reduces bus capacity. If a bus is full, we are asking people to wait for the next bus.

Above all, we’re asking people to be kind and patient with drivers and their fellow passengers as normal bus services resume.

Council meetings

This week’s committee meetings, scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, will go ahead remotely over Zoom as planned. Meetings will be livestreamed on ORC’s YouTube channel.

From next week, in-person council meetings will resume under alert level 2 guidelines.