Taskforce team doing great job

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

THE Enhanced Taskforce Green crews helping clean-up after the June rain storms have worked on more than a dozen properties so far and have been doing a great job, says agriculture recovery facilitator Patrick Willock.

The 15 workers are divided into two gangs and have been in the field for just over a fortnight.

“They have continued to make progress as they work their way through the 30 or so properties we have registered for assistance under the TaskForce Green scheme,” Mr Willock said.

“Initially they concentrated on the Te Karaka and Tolaga Bay areas, but the coast team started work last week around Whangara.”

The western team has moved to the Ormond area after being at Te Karaka.

“They have been working on river flats, orchards, sheep, beef and stud farms.”

Mr Willock said the work had been much harder because of the rain over the previous weekend.

“But the crews are absolutely impressing landowners with their speed, teamwork, attitude and diligence.

“They have been leaving fences, farms and orchards in a far better condition than when they arrived,” he said.

The Enhanced Taskforce Green programme, funded by Government, was scheduled to run for about 13 weeks.

“We may swing back and help farmers with some temporary fencing work once we have dealt with the flood debris.”