A final report on the Whakatāne District’s recovery from the April 2017 flooding disaster has been received by the Whakatāne District Council’s Policy Committee.
The report from Recovery Manager Barbara Dempsey provides an update on the recovery from the widespread damage caused by ex-tropical cyclone Debbie on 6 April 2017. It also confirms the formal closure of the Recovery Office.
On 6 April 2017, some 1600 people were evacuated from Edgecumbe township and 320 homeowners throughout the district were displaced because their home was either destroyed or made uninhabitable by water damage.
Ms Dempsey said that 90 percent of displaced residents had returned home by August 14. A further eight percent of residents were expected to have returned home in the near future, or were making progress and expected to have home repairs completed by the end of November. The remaining homeowners were either still deciding on what to do, or had not started rebuilding.
She said the Navigation service implemented by the Council had proved to be vital and provided a strong interface with people on a daily basis. “The service was particularly well-received by the community and has also been recognised nationally as an innovative approach to community support, which should be implemented as early as possible when significant emergency events occur.”
She reported that Bay of Plenty Regional Council stop bank construction in Edgecumbe has been completed, with road reconstruction expected to be completed by mid-September.
“The Eastern Bay Energy Trust Insulation Project is ongoing, in conjunction with the house rebuild programme, with 110 houses insulated and 29 remaining to be completed.”
As part of the recovery programme, a debrief document and toolbox resource has been developed to capture and document the District Recovery activities undertaken by the Council, other agencies and the community since April 2017.
“An Edgecumbe Collective has now been formed to progress a wide range of community initiatives,” Ms Dempsey said. “Council has employed Vicky Richards to support the Collective, which includes representatives from community groups, schools and businesses, and will continue to fund that role over the next two years.”
The Council remains a key contact for any recovery issues that may arise.