With the region formally moving into the recovery phase post Cyclone Gabrielle, Horizons Regional Council remains focused on assessing flood infrastructure and supporting recovery efforts.
Horizons group recovery manager Dr Jon Roygard says Cyclone Gabrielle was a broad scale event.
“While the brunt of the event was felt in the Tararua District, places on the Pohangina, Ōroua, Rangitīkei and Manawatū rivers also received damage – in some cases adding to damage that occurred in other events in the last year,” he says.
“We know that there will be people who have damage to flood protection on their properties that want to hear from us and have their issue resolved. We are working as quickly as we can to get around everyone and provide information about next steps.
He says during the last few weeks, Horizons Regional Council have undertaken both aerial and ground checks of flood protection assets. .
“We are prioritising repairs and debris removal and will reschedule our planned river management works this year to allow for that. It’s also likely that this event will impact our work programmes for a few years.”
“This past and coming week we are been focused on visiting properties in the upper Pohangina/Ōroua catchment where water heights were similar to 2004 and flooded low-lying land. We’re also continuing to clear debris from key sites in the Tararua District.” he says
With the national state of emergency ending for Tararua, Tararua District Council have also formally moved into recovery.
“Through their recovery efforts, Tararua District Council are engaging with their communities to access ongoing needs and next steps. Horizons will continue to support those efforts, both in the Tararua and other parts of the region.”
Reports of flood damage to river infrastructure can be sent to [email protected].
