Thames-Coromandel District Council has announced Eileen Hopping will take on the new role of Whangamata community development manager.

Eileen will be a familiar face for many, having worked in a variety of customer services roles with council since 2004, as well as being on the Tairua-Pauanui Community Board from 2001-2004.

New Whangamata Community Development manager Eileen hopping. Photo: TCDC

This new role will see Eileen based at council's Whangamata Area Office on Port Road.

'I'm out there in the community as the go-to person for people and community groups who need help from council to get something done,” explains Eileen.

'Whether it is funding or help with getting a resource consent, or steering them in the right direction to do what they would like to do.”

Eileen describes her role as community development manager as being 'a source of information about what's available and what's possible”.

So if your community group needs funding or help with council paperwork, or you want to hold an event in the south-east part of the district then make sure you get in touch with Eileen.

'For me being the community development manager is about being the face of council – saying ‘We are here to help',” says Eileen.

In the past Eileen worked for the old Ohinemuri County Council after finishing and has also worked as an administrator at Hikuai School plus several local sports clubs in Tairua.