Silt left behind after Cyclone Gabrielle is still causing major problems for hundreds of residents and businesses across the region.
Now a taskforce has been set up to help get rid of the millions of cubic metres of silt that washed down Hawke鈥檚 Bay鈥檚 rivers from the hills, devastating homes and properties.
The Silt Recovery Taskforce, put together by Hawke鈥檚 Bay Regional Council and Hastings District Council, has developed a comprehensive action plan focused on zones with dedicated contractors.
Taskforce lead Darren de Klerk said the job ahead was huge.
听鈥淲e estimate over five million cubic metres of silt has been deposited on orchards, farms, roads and residential properties across the Hastings district 鈥 it will likely take many months if not years depending on how much silt needs to be removed. We cannot underestimate the scale of the job ahead of us,鈥 he said.
鈥淲e have developed a system with six zones across the region, and each zone has dedicated contractors to collect silt from orchards, farms, roads and residential properties. The contractors will also be responsible for picking up any remaining flood-damaged household items within their zones, based on requests lodged with Hastings District Council.鈥
However, the council is not assisting residents with clearing silt from within properties, the taskforce is collecting silt once ready for collection but working in with landowners and insurers to streamline the process to minimise unnecessary double handling.
Six silt collection sites have been established to manage the material collected.
听鈥淲e鈥檙e working hard to find sites to put the silt we鈥檙e collecting, figuring out if these are temporary or permanent, ensuring we鈥檙e following environmental rules and consent conditions, and working in with the Severe Weather Emergency Legislation Bill.
鈥淭he taskforce is working on a range of options, and working closely with other councils, industry, and landowners to work towards solutions for the region,鈥 de Klerk said.
- Cyclone Gabrielle covers Hawke's Bay farmland with two meters of silt
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- Watch: What a scoop! Sheep rescued from silt by digger
Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said the taskforce had been established in recognition of the need to deal with this enormously hard issue as effectively and efficiently as possible.
鈥淲e must help those who are affected to start recovering their properties and restoring their livelihoods regardless of council boundaries,鈥 she said.
鈥淭o help protect our infrastructure and minimise creating flood hazards, we鈥檙e asking residents to gather up the silt and put it within and as close to the boundary of their property as possible, in an area as close as possible to where collectors can get access. This is to keep silt out of drains and reduce the risk of flooding.鈥
Hawke鈥檚 Bay Regional Council chairwoman Hinewai Ormsby said the taskforce was an important part of the region鈥檚 response to the cyclone.
鈥淲e鈥檝e seen that working together is the most efficient way to respond to this devastating cyclone. We鈥檙e working with Hastings District Council to support the region鈥檚 recovery, and this taskforce is committed to work through the issues around silt in our rohe.鈥
Affected residents can call 0800 108 838 and press 2 to request cyclone-related silt collection. An online form to request silt collection will be up on the website in the next week. Once the request is lodged, the site will be visited by an assessor within three working days and then scheduled into the collection programme.
A map of the silt recovery zone areas.
Zone Area
Zone 1: Esk Valley, Whirinaki, Bayview, Glengarry, Tangoio
Zone 2: Awatoto, Napier, Meanee, Taradale, Pakowhai, Clive, Whakatu
Zone 3: Puketapu North, Rissington, Dartmoor, Poraiti, Puketitiri, Puketapu South, Waiohiki, Omahu, Fernhill, Pukehamoamoa
Zone 4: Crownthorpe, Sherenden, Moteo plus rural areas between rivers
Zone 5: Twyford, Clive, Whakatu, Tomoana, Havelock North, Tukituki, Maraekakaho
Zone 6: CHB 鈥 Otane, Waipawa, Waipukurau, Wallingford
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