Tasman Mayor seeks Government support for clean up

The need to support Golden Bay businesses affected by the recent cyclone is the message Tasman Mayor Richard Kempthorne is delivering to government Ministers in Wellington today.

“I am asking that the Government consider an economic support package to assist the businesses to get through the winter and enable them to be prepared for business next summer”, said Mr Kempthorne.

“This is not a bail out, but a means of support for an area significantly affected by the Cyclone to give business owners and residents some means of surviving through to the next season.

“It is one of a number steps we are taken to support Tasman residents affected by the storm. We have already spent a great deal of time and resource rectifying and repairing the havoc caused to Tasman’s infrastructure to enable recovery.

“At the same time there are a large number of residents dealing with significant damage to private property. In many cases the scale of damage and sheer amount of silt and debris left behind is too much to manage for residents alone.

“The Council is currently assessing the scale and expense of what property owners have been left to deal with to enable a further plea for government support to enable the Council and property owners to manage the clean-up.

“We understand the frustration and despair for many affected residents and we are working as quickly as we can to get the information required for such a plea. I am confident though once the Government sees the scale of the need, help will not be far away.”

Key Areas of Council Focus

Supporting Golden Bay businesses in their request for Government assistance to weather the impact of reduced tourism following Cycling Gita

Clearing silt and debris from public land; repairs to streams and rivers in areas owned by the Council; infrastructure repairs

Clearing silt and debris from private land on behalf of EQC to allow for faster removal for residents

Assessment of the scale of remaining debris, and damage to streams etc, on private land, with the aim of seeking an assistance package from the Government.

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