21 April, 4:15 pm
Notice of local transition period
Whakatāne District Mayor Tony Bonne has given notice of a local transition period over Whakatāne District owing to the flooding and widespread damage as a result of the extreme rainfall event generated by tropical storm Debbie.
This transition period:
- Comes into force at 12 pm on Friday, 21 April 2017, which is the time and date when the state of emergency declared at 12 pm on 14 April 2017 for Whakatāne District expires
- Is in force for 28 days
- Ends at 12 pm on 19 May 2017, unless extended or terminated earlier
Rubbish and greenwaste collection
- There will be no on-street rubbish collection operations in Edgecumbe on Anzac Day (Tuesday, 25 April). Street operations will resume Wednesday morning. Note that this is a separate service from kerbside collections, which will occur as normal.
- We ask that residents please be patient as we rotate skip bins — we will meet everyone's needs as quickly and efficiently as possible.
- We are not accepting greenwaste that has been left on the roadside. We will only collect greenwaste from the normal greenwaste bins provided to properties. Owners are responsible for disposing of any trees that have come down on private property. The Council will remove trees from Council-owned property — if this has not yet been done, it will be done as soon as we are able.
- No extra greenwaste pickups are planned at this stage.
- The transfer station will continue to accept greenwaste produced by storm damage until further notice.
- Any residents who would like the volunteer army's help to clear their debris can email edgecumbevolunteers@gmail.com or call 027 562 2230.
- We strongly discourage residents from disposing of greenwaste in local parks.
Pekatahi Bridge damaged
NZTA has assessed the structure of the Pekatahi Bridge and has found damage to the bridge from the recent weather events. They also report significant damage to the State Highway between Pekatahi Bridge and Tāneatua. Given the extent of the damage, NZTA is unable to provide an updated opening date for the Pekatahi Bridge. They do expect a lengthy delay and will have a further update in early May.
21 April, 9:35 am
The Buddhist Compassion Relief Foundation — Tzu Chi — are generously donating gift cards to each household from red/yellow stickered properties.
The Tzu Chi Foundation representatives are in town Friday, and the cards are being handed out to recipients at the Edgecumbe College between the hours of 10 and 11:30 am and 2 – 2:30 pm. Recipients will be personally given the gift cards (worth $700) by the Tzu Chi representatives.
20 April, 4:30 pm
Councils blown away by volunteer numbers
More than 1190 people have registered with the Ngāti Awa Volunteer Army since it was initiated on Monday, 10th April. Ngāti Awa and both the Whakatāne District and Bay of Plenty Regional Councils have been coordinating these volunteer efforts and already hundreds of homes have benefited from this mahi.
Pim de Monchy, who usually fills the role of Kaituna Catchments Manager at the Regional Council, is helping to coordinate these volunteer efforts with Ngāti Awa.
"The number of people who have rolled up their sleeves for Edgecumbe is truly mind blowing. They have come from all over New Zealand and as far as Germany and the Czech Republic. Already more than 5,500 hours have been contributed. It can be quite physical so we are immensely grateful for their energy," he says.
"Although there is still a lot of work to be done in Edgecumbe the bulk of the work the volunteer army can help with is now winding up. For that reason we will be closing off the online registration page at 2pm tomorrow (Friday). We ask that any residents who would still like the volunteer army’s help to email edgecumbevolunteers@gmail.com or call 027 562 2230," he says.
There will be no Ngāti Awa Volunteer Army organised clean-ups over the weekend. This is to give locals coordinators a break and a chance to help their own families with their clean-up. Residents and their families can still collect safety gear for clean ups from the Edgecumbe hall free of charge until 4:30pm on Tuesday, 25 April.
Those still interested in volunteering in Edgecumbe have until 2 pm on Friday, 21 April and can register online here »
20 April, 9:30 am
Boil water notice lifted
Multiple areas of the District were under a boil water notice due to the risk of contamination. This notice has now been lifted for all those on a Council supply.
To clarify – A majority of people are on Council supply (especially in towns and built up areas). If you have a meter at your gate it is Council supply. If you haven't got a meter and you have a tank or well on your property then you may have your own water supply. We suggest you continue to boil water until you have had it tested.
Odour complaints
In two locations (Tāneatua and Edgecumbe), sewage ponds were overtopped by external flood waters and contaminated adjacent private paddocks. We have arranged for a contractor to treat the sites with aerial application of lime to disinfect the surface and reduce odours. Grass seed will then be applied to reinstate pasture in those areas.
NZ Post
Most mail delivery has re-started but mail is being held for affected properties. People can collect from the NZ Post depot on Commerce Street from 7am to 10:30am with appropriate identification.
Residents can fill out a free 2 month redirection at the Whakatāne Post Shop, the Kawerau Post Shop or online here.
Roads
Power (Horizon)
Horizon Networks now report there are no more areas without electrical power, and it is focusing on individual customer faults. A number of properties are without power in Edgecumbe due to a major cable fault and unlikely to restore power before Friday.
Central Government funding
Central government have made $700,000 available to help businesses affected by the flooding in Edgecumbe and the Bay of Plenty. We are working through what that looks like and how it will be made available and we’ll let everyone know more when we do. You can read the full media release on the Beehive website or contact Ged Casey from the Eastern Bay Chamber of Commerce on 027 562 7500.
Volunteers
Ngāti Awa Volunteer Army is now into their sixth day (as of Thursday) of clean-up and have provided an incredible 4,560 volunteer hours. More than 1140 people have registered to volunteer, including visitors from overseas (countries such as Germany, United States and Czech Republic.) Close to 200 properties have been cleaned.
19 April, 10:50 am
Boil water notice lifted
Multiple areas of the District were under a boil water notice due to the risk of contamination. This notice has now been lifted for all those on a Council supply. Property owners with their own water supply who may have been impacted by the flood event may wish to have it tested.
18 April, 1:30 pm
The water tanker near the toilets that has been providing potable water supply in Tāneatua has to be removed for servicing. The water tanker near the school is still available.
18 April, 9:50 am
Horizon Networks now reports there are no more areas without electrical power, and it is now focusing on individual customer faults.
If you have any questions or concerns about electricity supply, please contact Horizon at 0800 HORIZON.