River up, isolated again

Mokonui Station farmer Sam Gemmell stuck on the other side of Mokonui River after recent rainfall makes the river impassable. The only communication he has is shouting across the river to his father Mark. Picture by Renae Lolohea

After another bout of severe weather on June 22, Gisborne farmer Sam Gemmell was without power and completely cut off again.

The only road access from his family homestead to Wharekopae Road is via a bridge that was wiped out by Cyclone Gabrielle in February.

Rising waters made the river impassable, limiting his contact with the outside world to shouting to his father over the Mokonui River.

“It’s access to everything — to the road and your neighbours,” Sam told Local Focus after that June weather event .

Mokonui Station Bridge is privately owned. Sam’s grandfather built the bridge in 1959 and it withstood Cyclone Bola.

The cost to replace the uninsured bridge is estimated to be anywhere between $350,000 and $500,000.

Sam Gemmell bought Mokonui Station from his parents just under three years ago.

His father Mark had bought it from his father who started as a shepherd on the farm pre-war and became a partner in 1946.

“The risk is that you’re all over the house side of the river and you get heavy rain at night, in case of an emergency, for whatever reason, you can’t get back across it. It’s a central part of the farm’s infrastructure,” Mark said.

When Cyclone Gabrielle hit, Sam and his partner lost power and were totally isolated.

Within three days Tairawhiti Civil Defence had choppered food in to them. That was the last time they heard from them.

“We’re all dealing with shit from the cyclone and this continued rain, but it just feels like all the people who are really needing the help don’t seem to be getting it,” Sam said.

“I just think it hasn’t been handled that well. I haven’t had one phone call from the council or anything to see or do anything,” Sam said.

Mark said he contacted the council about the bridge multiple times via email and phone, but had mostly been ignored.

“I would have thought they had a responsibility to check their residents and ratepayers were safe, and offer some solution to what we’re facing.

“We haven’t got road access to his home so it’s pretty frustrating,” Mark said.

Tairāwhiti Recovery Group manager Anita Reedy-Houlthausen said there had been regular email contact between the regional recovery coordinator and the Gemmells (Mark).

“I know that she has been leading the response in terms of making sure the Gemmells are stocked, so I know that they’re well stocked,” Ms Reedy-Houlthausen said.

“In terms of the bridge discussions I also know she’s been having discussions with them.”

Mark  acknowledged the email conversation with the coordinator, which he says he initiated.

But the family believes the council should do more.

Ms Reedy-Houlthausen said the Gemmells could go through the process of making the private bridge a council-owned bridge, but it was a huge process.

“We have to look at a range of factors and one of them is around equity and affordability for the rest of our ratepayer population.

“It services one family. When you look at the 20 bridges that are across the region that are just non-existent anymore, it doesn’t fit within our priorities and it’s unlikely to in the long term,” she said.

Sam received $10,000 from the Ministry for Primary Industries and $3000 from the Rural Support Trust — nowhere near what is needed to replace the bridge.

“It’s pretty much my livelihood and my business and I just need a bit of help so I can run the business properly and effectively and carry on contributing,” he said.

“I’’m not asking for a handout, but just want a bit of help, like a bit of funding.”

On June 29, the Government released support packages for growers, farmers, and businesses affected by North Island weather events.

The package includes underwriting bank lending and offering cheaper finance options to ensure the long-term survival of critical regional industries.

The council contacted Sam via text message to check how he was after the heavy rain early this month.