Key Takeaways:
- The recovery efforts from the Tasman District floods are expected to cost the council $50 million and take up to two years to complete.
- The floods caused extensive damage to farms, rural properties, and infrastructure, with over 60 roads closed and hundreds of homes assessed for damage.
- The total cost of damage to river infrastructure is estimated to be between $23 and $25 million, while the cost of road damage is over $20 million.
- Private landowners are facing significant costs to recover from the floods, with many struggling to know what work they can do to their properties without requiring consent.
- The Tasman District Council is working to improve its flood protection infrastructure and asset management processes to mitigate the risks of future flooding.
Introduction to the Recovery Efforts
The Tasman District is still reeling from the effects of back-to-back floods that caused widespread damage across the region over six months ago. The recovery efforts are expected to be a long and costly process, with the council estimating that it will take up to two years to complete and cost around $50 million. The floods, which were described as the worst in 150 years, caused extensive damage to farms and rural properties, with land lost to swollen rivers, crops inundated with silt, and fences washed away.
The Extent of the Damage
The floods had a significant impact on the region’s infrastructure, with over 60 roads closed due to flooding, landslips, and fallen trees. Hundreds of homes were also assessed for damage, with 36 yellow-stickered and five red-stickered. The total cost of damage to river infrastructure is estimated to be between $23 and $25 million, while the cost of road damage is over $20 million. The Insurance Council of New Zealand reported that there were 2807 claims totaling $37.4 million from the June floods in the South Island, bringing the total cost close to $100 million.
Rebuilding River Infrastructure
The region’s rivers were severely affected by the floods, with many reaching record levels. The Motueka River and the Wai-iti River were the worst-affected, with significant erosion and damage to the riverbanks. The council’s rivers team has been working to prioritize the critical areas that are susceptible to future floods, with around $6 million spent on river work so far. The team is focusing on stop bank work, in-river work, and rock shoring to stabilize the banks and prevent further erosion. However, the process is expected to take at least 18 months to two years to complete, and the council is hoping that there will not be another flood event during that time to undo the progress made.
District-Wide Road Repairs
The storms caused significant damage to the region’s roads, with over 4500 roading jobs needed to repair the damage. There are currently 1000 jobs left to address, with close to 30 people working on the roads each day. The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has been working to rebuild and strengthen sections of road, address erosion risks, improve drainage, and stabilize the ground. The work on State Highway 60 over the Tākaka Hill has been completed, with the road reopened to two lanes. However, four roads across the district remain closed, including the Graham Valley South Branch Road, which provides access to the Kahurangi National Park.
Ongoing Impact on the Rural Community
The floods have had a significant impact on the rural community, with many farmers still recovering from the damage. The Top of the South Rural Support Trust has been working with farmers to provide support and guidance, with 220 farmers spoken to so far. Many farmers have been affected in various ways, including gravel, silt, and debris washed up on farms, fences destroyed, or land lost to swollen rivers. The trust is working to provide support and resources to help farmers recover from the floods, including the Enhanced Task Force Green initiative, which has seen two teams of nine people working for the last six months to clean up properties.
Conclusion and Future Plans
The recovery efforts in the Tasman District are ongoing, with the council working to improve its flood protection infrastructure and asset management processes to mitigate the risks of future flooding. The council is also working to support private landowners who are facing significant costs to recover from the floods. The region is expected to take some time to fully recover from the effects of the floods, but with the support of the council, the community, and external agencies, it is hoped that the region will be able to bounce back stronger and more resilient than before.
