Marlborough Recovery Update #21, Friday 24 February 2023

Welcome to the Marlborough Recovery Update bringing you the latest news on the recovery effort and support available. Newsletters are fortnightly and the next is published on Friday 10 March 2023. To streamline our communication, we will, in future, offer a subscription option, so the newsletter will be emailed directly to you. If you’d like to subscribe sign up below

If you know someone without internet access who is unable to read this update, please ask them to phone Council on 03 520 7400 and provide their name and postal address. We will ensure a hard copy of the Marlborough Recovery Update is posted to them.

August weather event

The Marlborough recovery continues following the August 2022 weather event.

Thirty three properties in Marlborough have red stickers, 66 yellow and 24 have white due to the damage sustained, which was more extensive and widespread than the July 2021 weather event.

Kenepuru Sound students pay it forward

Home school students in the Kenepuru Sound have made care packages for fellow students in Auckland.

Upon hearing the news about the devastating weather events and flooding affecting various parts of the North Island, the students decided to ‘pay it forward’ by preparing care packages to let students know they were thinking of them.

They chose an Auckland school that, like themselves, was near the sea, and made cards and they and their families donated stationary, pens, pencils and books.

The Home School Skills Group is made up of students from Kenepuru and outer Marlborough Sounds who meet informally every few weeks to learn and share new crafts and skills.

They wrote messages to personalise the cards adding stickers, pictures and puzzles.

Recovery teams meet

Earlier this month the Marlborough District Council recovery team met with the Marlborough Roads recovery team. The purpose of the meeting was to meet face to face to discuss the most common and current customer enquiries. It was also to establish new ways to streamline handling of enquiries.

Insurance drop-in day re-scheduled to 1 March

Cyclone Gabrielle forced the postponement of the insurance drop-in day at Havelock Town Hall from last week to Wednesday 1 March.

Recovery navigator Charlotte Wood said insurance representatives had planned to drive up from Christchurch for the Havelock event, but that trip coincided with a dire weather forecast due to cyclone Gabrielle. They sensibly chose to stay put.

The insurance drop-in day is designed to help property owners with ongoing insurance and EQCover claims. Running from 10.00 am until 4.00 pm (last arrivals 3.00 pm to ensure time to speak to relevant professionals), attendees will have an opportunity to meet representatives, ask specific questions and find out how their claim is progressing. Representatives from the New Zealand Claims Resolution Service will also be on hand.
Go to the New Zealand Claims Resolution Service website

People are advised to take any reports they have along with insurance policies and schedules along.

Brendon Robertson, Building Control Group Manager at Marlborough District Council, will be available to answer questions about placarding.

To register, email recovery@marlborough.govt.nz or text 027 213 0341. Registrations are essential but if you registered for the postponed event you don’t need to re-register.

ABC to wellbeing workshop

A wellbeing clinic is being run in Picton next month for people who have experienced loss, faced challenges or undergone change.

The workshops provide an opportunity to learn strategies to better understand, cope with and reduce stress, anxiety and exhaustion.

Held at Endeavour Park Pavilion on Friday 24 March the session starts at 10.30 am (please arrive at 10.15 am and bring your lunch) and finishes at 3.00 pm. There is no cost as the workshop is sponsored by Te Whatu Ora Nelson/Marlborough and everyone is welcome.

Course facilitators will show how to identify stress and explain why it affects people differently. Practical strategies to build resilience and reduce symptoms of stress and trauma will be given.

Recovery Navigator Charlotte Wood has attended a course and described it as fun, thought provoking and interactive. Spaces are limited so please book now by emailing Charlotte.Wood@marlborough.govt.nz or text 027 213 0341.

Farming Field Day

The challenges of farming in the Marlborough Sounds will be canvassed at a field day at Manaroa Farm on Tuesday 14 March.

The day is organised by Beef + Lamb New Zealand for the Marlborough farming community.

The mailboat will leave Havelock at 8.00 am and cruise to Manaroa Farm where Josh Jamieson will give an overview of his farming operation. He and other local farmers will share their experiences in overcoming logistical challenges presented by two devastating weather events in July 2021 and August 2022.

Industry representatives will also speak along with Marlborough ward Councillor Barbara Faulls. A barbecue lunch will be provided thanks to Rural Women NZ.

The day is sponsored by the Marlborough District Council, Vet Marlborough, Federated Farmers, Alliance, Rural Support Trust, Rabobank and Beef + Lamb New Zealand.

Tickets are $20 including boat transport. Registrations are essential via the Beef & Lamb northern South Island Facebook page www.facebook.com/BLNZNSI

Name change

The Government has announced the launch of a new national service - theNew Zealand Claims ResolutionService (NZCRS) to support homeowners with residential insurance claims following a natural disaster.

The NZCRS will help to achieve timely, fair, and enduring resolution of residential insurance claims resulting from natural disasters and replaces the Residential Advisory Service (RAS).

NZCRS Case Manager Leanne Curtis says all current RAS customers in the system have been contacted directly and transferred. “Both Fiona Paton and I are committed to the Nelson/Marlborough event, and we hope to be spending more time in the region over the next few months as EQCover settlements start to land in force,” she said.

Mayoral Relief Fund closes

Applications for the Marlborough Mayoral Relief Fund are now closed. For any enquires or queries please email floodrelief.applications@marlborough.govt.nz

Calendar

Insurance/EQCover Drop-In Day

Wednesday 1 March from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm at the Havelock Town Hall

Farming Field Day in the Sounds

Tuesday 14 March leaving Havelock at 8.00 am. Tickets $20 including boat transport

ABC to Wellbeing

Friday 24 March 10.30 am at Endeavour Park Pavilion Picton

Roading update

Works being carried out on recovery roads this week include slip clearance work on Te Mahia Bay Road. Once completed, improved access works will start on Moetapu Bay Road.

Works to replace a retaining wall, approximately 3.3km along Queen Charlotte Drive from Picton, has continued this week with excavation completed and construction due to start next week.

The construction of a slope protection wall at Mahakipawa Hill on Queen Charlotte Drive, 1.3km from Havelock has also started.

The construction of Noels Bridge on Northbank Road continues. This week the placement of reinforcing steel and the construction of the bridge’s abutments and boxing has been undertaken.

River training works and the excavation for foundations has started for the limestone revetment on Awatere Valley Road.

Kenepuru Road and its side roads, including Moetapu Bay Road, remain restricted to residents and emergency services only.

Information

To check the status of any local road in Marlborough visit Marlborough District Council’s CDEM Map and click on the road for more information.

To contact the Marlborough Roads Recovery Team email recovery@marlboroughroads.com or phone 0800 213 213 between 8.00 am - 5.00 pm, Monday to Friday.