Council staff 'working around clock' after devastating flooding

GAP WIDENING: Engineers are assessing the Mangahauini River bridge at Tokomaru Bay and it could be anywhere up to two weeks before it is operational. Picture by ATS engineering & Network Solutions

Gisborne Mayor Rehette Stoltz says council staff are working around the clock to address the fallout of devastating flooding in Tairāwhiti this week, with the reopening of roads being the main focus.

Speaking from her home where she is self-isolating after testing positive to Covid-19, Mayor Stoltz said the intensity of this week's flooding had come as something of a surprise.

“We communicate with NIWA (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research) all the time so we would get information, but there wasn't a big red flag out for us — there wasn't.

“So our staff, maybe late afternoon or early evening two days ago, started realising it's going to be quite a localised intense event.”

Torrential rain fell in Tolaga Bay and further north on Tuesday night. It didn't let up until the following morning, flooding homes and washing out roads in the process.

On Wednesday night, the western stretches of Tairāwhiti were worst hit.

The Mayor said it could be two weeks before the bridge at Tokomaru Bay was operational and that opening all state highways in and out of Gisborne could take up to a week.

“The biggest for all of us, and this isn't a target job as such, is that we need to get the state highways open.

“We need to make sure our producers can get their food and produce in and out. We need to make sure people know access to the hospital and other services is open.

“It's been flat out. We haven't had time to breathe because it's all go. There are communities that are totally cut off from aid.

“There are people up the Coast who need medical help but can't get it.”

Minister for Emergency Management Kiri Allan yesterday announced a $175,000 funding package to help the council support those worst affected by the extreme weather.

Ms Allan said the funding would be provided to the council and was at the “more significant end of the scale”.

Asked how far the money was expected to stretch, she said it was an immediate response to tackle imminent issues and she expected there would be ongoing support provided by the Government for roading and welfare.

Mayor Stoltz said the contribution was welcome relief and would allow the council to do things like put out skip bins so people could get rid of damaged items.

“People living on Arthur Street (Tokomaru Bay) . . . they need to dispose of nearly everything in their homes. I feel for them. This is the second time in nine months that they have been through this.”

Higher level discussions were needed with the Government about funding for emergency work in the region, including significant road maintenance, which the council was still playing catch-up on after flooding last year, she said.

“I also spoke with the minister on Thursday to say we will need urgent discussion about our emergency roading funding because we depleted it months ago.”

■ Local Democracy Reporting is public interest journalism funded through NZ On Air