Cost sharing and buyout proposal ‘within fortnight’ for Category 3 homes

The aftermath of the deluge from Cyclone Gabrielle is pictured here at the confluence of the Waimata and Taruheru rivers on the morning of February 14. Forty properties in Tairāwhiti have been assessed as Category 3, meaning they are not safe to live in because of the unacceptable risk of future flooding or landslide and loss of life. Gisborne Herald file picture by Ben Cowper

Gisborne District Council says it will be in a position to take a proposal for cost sharing and the buyout of Category 3 homes to the community in the next couple of weeks.

This follows the Government’s announcement this week on the Hawke’s Bay cost sharing and buyout proposal, details of which are yet to be made public.

Mayor Rehette Stoltz said cyclones Gabrielle and Hale caused significant damage to residential property owners with, so far, 40 properties in this region assessed as Category 3. This means they are not safe to live in because of the unacceptable risk of future flooding or landslide and loss of life.

“Council has been in negotiations with central government for the past couple of months and continues to work through the concerns and challenges that the cost sharing and buyout presents.”

Part of the negotiations include discussions about flood protection projects to give some certainty for owners of properties assessed as Category 2.

“We understand that Category 3 property owners want certainty of time frames as we work towards finding solutions that are in the best interests of all of Tairāwhiti.

“The proposal for the Government’s buyout and cost sharing will impact on all ratepayers and this is something that councillors and the community need to agree to.

“We want to get the best deal that we can for our ratepayers and our Category 3 residential property owners, and we are working as fast as we can to give everyone certainty.

“In the meatime we continue to be in close contact with Category 3 property owners and we expect to have more clarity on what the cost sharing and buyback will be within the next fortnight.”

On Monday five Hawke’s Bay councils confirmed an offer from the Crown had been made, with the funding package covering three of the region’s highest priority areas — the voluntary buyout of residential Category 3 properties, flood protection, and transport infrastructure, including urgent roading and bridge repairs.

Each of Hawke’s Bay’s five councils are now considering the Crown’s offer in advance of a series of extraordinary council meetings.

In announcing the cost-sharing agreement with Hawke’s Bay mayors and the regional council chair, Cyclone Recovery Minister Grant Robertson said: “Negotiations with Auckland and Tairāwhiti on cost-sharing arrangements are progressing well, and we are hopeful to have an agreement for those regions shortly.

“Alongside these negotiations the Crown is working through a process and support package for affected Māori land and communities in affected regions. Funding for this work sits outside of the cost-sharing arrangements with councils.

“Communities can rest assured we are moving as quickly as we can, supporting councils make progress with their locally-led recovery,” Mr Robertson said.