More help for Edgecumbe flood victims

Some Edgecumbe homes lay empty after flood waters have gone through them. Photo/File.

Owners of yellow-stickered flood-damaged homes in Whakatane district who don't have the means to make them liveable are being offered a "hand up" to do so.

Whakatane District Mayor Tony Bonne and Liveable Homes team leader John Pullar yesterday announced what they believed to be a "unique project" aimed at ensuring these flood-damaged homes can made liveable again, regardless of their insurance status.

"Our Recovery Team is leading this initiative which will bring together funding contributions, people with the right skills to lead teams of volunteer workers, building supply companies, and anyone else who can contribute to this process, to get a great outcome for the community,' Mr Bonne said.

Preliminary information indicated that there may be up to 100 flood-damaged houses in the district where the owners may not be able to fund the repairs.

"There's no way we want those homes to sit and rot because their owners do not have the means required to get them back to a liveable standard," Mr Pullar said.

The Whakatane District Recovery Team hoped to get all the homes involved back into a state where they can be reoccupied before Christmas, he said.

"This will be a mammoth task, but we think it's do-able and we'll be giving it our absolute best shot. It's important to recognise that this is a 'hand-up' , not a hand out.

"We will be expecting property owners to contribute their efforts to the project, as far as they are able to do so, Mr Pullar said

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has provided a $250,000 grant to help small businesses in the district which suffered sustained disruption to get "up and running" again.

The funds have been granted jointly to Whakatane District Council and Eastern Bay of Plenty Chamber of Commerce, with an assessment committee making decisions.

Mr Bonne said the grant was a welcome initiative which would help small businesses move on from the disaster.

Anyone who wants to help should call Whakatane District Council on 07 306 0500.