Silt removal cost up to $2m for GDC

Silt removal: Gisborne District Council says its spent just over $2 million on silt removal since the start of the year.

Gisborne District Council has 137 homes on its list for silt removal, according to latest figures, as its spend on silt removal climbs to more than $2 million.

The figures relate to a total spend in the region following Cyclone Gabrielle, and further costs are expected to come on top of that.

GDC community lifelines director Dave Wilson said the council had spent $2.06 million on silt removal, for which it had been reimbursed $1.37 million by the National Emergency Management Agency.

A claim of $475,000 was still awaiting approval.

Sums relate to silt removal outside residential properties, as removal from underneath homes was still in its early stages, the council said.

A dollar amount for silt removal underneath homes could not yet be given, and the figure did not include silt removal from roads and drains.

The council said the majority of Gisborne homes with silt had around a foot or less deposited on their properties.

Earlier in the year, the council secured funding from the Ministry for the Environment which was split into two streams.

An allocation of $31.4 million was received for the removal of sediment and debris from land, while commercial properties received $7.4 million.

Tairāwhiti is also still in the early stages of inviting commercial properties to apply for funding to clean up their land, the council said.