MEDIA RELEASE

Monday, June 29, 2015

Priority work at forefront

Agencies from throughout the Horizons Region are prioritising urgent works to be undertaken as the clean-up continues this week.

Horizons regional recovery manager Ged Shirley says regional clean-up efforts will focus on repairing damage to infrastructure, restoring road access, assisting with urgent rural needs, and working with evacuated property owners as the Regional Council works to coordinate assistance through Enhanced Taskforce Green.

“There is still a multitude of men and women on the ground working as hard and fast as they can to fulfill the most urgent needs of our Region following last week’s heavy rainfall and flooding,” Mr Shirley says.

“A key priority is the reinstatement of our regional flood protection network to resist any future flooding. Further rain is forecast for Friday and Saturday so efforts are focused on being able to deal with that.

“The Ministry of Social Development’s Enhanced Taskforce Green provides another way of helping affected communities get back on their feet.

“Through this programme, we’ll have an additional 25 workers available for a period of 10 weeks to carry out manual work such as debris clearance and making fences stockproof in the hardest hit areas of Wanganui, Rangitikei and South Taranaki.

“Anyone requiring this assistance is asked to get in touch with their district council who will work to prioritise tasks and assign teams to do the work. These teams will be up and running from 6 July and are undertaking training this week.”

A state of emergency remains in place for the Wanganui District Council as building inspectors continue to visit buildings to establish status of liveability.

The welfare centre at Wanganui Girls’ College in Wanganui East remains open between 8am and 7pm daily with a number of support agencies stationed there to assist residents.

Of the 400 people registered as evacuees over the course of the flood event, the majority have found alternative accommodation with family and friends.

Good progress is also being made to open roads around the region. The latest information on road closures is available from www.nzta.govt.nz and local council websites. If you would like to make a contribution the account number is Westpac 03 0791 0355050 04. Over to you if you want to leave us your contact details and name as the reference.

Lifeline utility operators, district councils, and landowners have been advised that any remedial works that need to be carried out urgently and immediately can be conducted under section 330 of the Resource Management Act. However, when replacing infrastructure such as bridges and culverts, the principle of like for like or like for better must be applied and Horizons should be notified.

If people are at all concerned about regulatory issues they are advised to contact Horizons’ rural advice team on toll free number 0508 800 800.

Anyone wishing to make a donation to the Manawatu Wanganui Regional Disaster Relief Fund Trust can do so by depositing funds into the following Westpac bank account – 030-728-0411355-00.

The Wanganui District Council Mayoral Fund has also been activated for people wanting to make specific donations to the people of Wanganui in both the urban and rural areas. Donations to this fund can be made via Westpac account number 03 0791 0355050 04. People are being asked to leave their contact details and name as the reference details if they wish.

Facebook page www.facebook.com/civildefencemanawatuwanganui will continue to act as a hub for flood-related information.

ENDS

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