Marlborough Recovery Update, Friday 19 May 2023
Welcome to the Marlborough Recovery Update bringing youthe latest news on the recovery effort and the support available. Newsletters are now fortnightly and the next is published on Friday 2 June 2023.
To streamline our communication with you, we will, in the 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 Ph: 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 one properties in Marlborough have red placards, 58 yellow and 34 have white due to the damage sustained, which was more extensive and widespread than the July 2021 weather event.
Engagement on options for future Marlborough Sounds transport network to start on 20 June
The next phase of public engagement for the Marlborough Sounds Future Access Study starts on 20 June. The public will be asked for their views on an ‘emerging preferred option’ for each of the five storm-damaged areas of the Sounds. Information on other possible options will also be made available at next month’s meetings and online.
From 20 to 28 June, seven community drop-in sessions will be held in Blenheim, Picton, around the Sounds and in Nelson. There will also be an online webinar for people who live outside Marlborough or who can’t make one of the drop-in meetings. A survey will seek the public’s input, with feedback due by 11 July.
Council embarked on the study to support the case for funding safe and resilient long-term access solutions for the Sounds, both for itself and to obtain funding assistance from Waka Kotahi.
Mayor Nadine Taylor said this next phase of engagement follows eight months of technical analysis by engineering consultancy Stantec and community feedback from stakeholders and Sounds’ landowners, homeowners and businesses, garnered from a survey in February.
“Based on this analysis and feedback, Council and Stantec have identified an emerging preferred option for the five areas in the Sounds that includes building back roads and also considers improved marine access options.”
“Stakeholder and public feedback will also be sought for an alternative, climate-resilient option for each area that is a combination of short-term actions and longer-term options in case we get more major weather events.”
“The harsh reality is we need a transport system that can cope with the damaging impacts of climate change, sea level rise and earthquakes, well into the future.”
“The drop-in sessions and survey are for everyone with an interest in our Marlborough Sounds transport network to provide their views.”
“Once we have completed this second round of engagement, Waka Kotahi will be able to consider all the analysis and feedback in our business case and make their decisions, which will include how much funding they will be able to provide or request from the Government.”
“I know that Sounds residents have been living with damaged roads since mid-2021 and want clarity about what is happening in the short, medium and long term. We are getting closer to that with this second round of public discussion on the preferred and alternative options.”
“The options being presented will have high-level cost estimates that cover repairs from the August 2022 event, capital improvements and ongoing maintenance costs. What we won’t know at this stage is the funding mix between Government and Council, but as there will be a significant impact on rates, we will be asking both Sounds residents and Marlborough ratepayers as a whole what they might be willing to pay for a resilient transport network in the Sounds.”
“I encourage people to come to a drop-in session to find out more and then to provide their views through the survey.”
“Following this engagement and any decisions by Waka Kotahi, Council will re-assess its preferred options and undertake a special consultation process under the Local Government Act on those and proposed funding before making final decisions.”
Drop-in sessions
Tuesday 20 June
5.00 pm – 7.00 pm
Blenheim, Lansdowne Park Sports Hub
Wednesday 21 June
10.00 am – 12.00 pm
Waitaria Bay Hall
Thursday 22 June
10.00 am – 12.00 pm
French Pass Hall
Friday 23 June
2.00 pm – 4.00 pm
Linkwater Hall
Monday 26 June
10.00 am – 12.00 pm
Rai Valley, The Millers Rest
Monday 26 June
5.30 pm – 7.30 pm
Zoom online: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81708059434
Tuesday 27 June
3.00 pm – 5.00 pm
Nelson, Trafalgar Centre, Northern Extension
Wednesday 28 June
12.00 pm – 2.00 pm
Port Marlborough Pavilion
At the drop-ins, the public will be able to view the emerging preferred option and an alternative climate-resilient option for each of the five geographic areas of the Sounds and ask the project team any questions. A consultation document, background information and videos will help explain the options and will be distributed prior to these events.
From 20 June, a link to the survey and more information will be available on the project web page
Go to the Marlborough Sounds Future Access Study page
Community insurance meetings
A community meeting, organised by IAG, is being held at Havelock Pavilion on Sunday 28 May from 2.00 to 4.00 pm for Kenepuru Road property owners with EQC claims.
Representatives from Tonkin and Taylor will be on hand to give a brief presentation on the land in the Kenepuru area following the 2021 and 2022 weather events.
EQC, insurance companies, assessing agencies, New Zealand Claims Resolution Service and Council’s Recovery Navigator will also be in attendance to answer questions and speak with customers individually after the meeting.
The purpose of the meeting is to provide the community along Kenepuru Road with an opportunity to meet with all representatives Courtney Cramond from IAG said.
“They have expressed a desire to both receive information and be heard together and this would be a forum to enable that,” she said.
Representatives from IAG will be available to meet with any customers in the Sounds afterwards – 29 May to 1 June.
For more details please contact the Recovery Navigator at recovery@marlborough.govt.nz
Winter is approaching so it’s time to prepare for emergencies.
Make sure you are ready for an emergency
The weather events in the North Island recently have reminded us how vulnerable we can be in times of adverse weather.
The July 2021 and August 2022 weather events in Marlborough caused severe damage that is still affecting many.
While we can’t change what nature throws at us, we can be informed and prepared. If we understand what could happen and have taken steps to prepare, we’re better able to adapt when something goes wrong.
In this and the next newsletter, we will give tips about preparing for an emergency. This week we’ll look at some of the ways you can access information.
Week 2: Make a start
Last newsletter we gave information on the things that could happen in an emergency. This week we’re going to start thinking about preparing for an emergency. Remember that your home has most of the things you’ll need, they just might not be in one place.
- Check your emergency food supplies including the food you already have in your pantry
- Swap food that is getting near its expiry date with food from your pantry, so you’re not wasting anything
- Buy one or two extra cans of food to store and think about pets and other animals; they need to eat too
- Think about what else you might need – a new torch, batteries, a battery or wind-up radio
Water, water everywhere nor any drop to drink
Last newsletter we encouraged you to take the first steps in being prepared for an emergency and this newsletter it’s all about the water. It seems ironic that in a storm we can be surrounded by water, but none of it is safe to drink! Even if you have a water tank you should consider having extra water safely stored.
The average person uses 1,540 litres of water in a typical week. The minimum amount of water you need to store is 21 litres per person per week, that’s 3 litres per person per day. While this is enough to drink, cook and manage some very basic hygiene, you won’t be able to wash yourself or your clothes.
Your emergency supply should be about 140 litres per person per week (20 litres per person per day for washing, drinking, cooking). Include extra for your pets and think about alternative water sources for stock and horses.
Find out more about how to safely store water at https://getready.govt.nz/en/prepared/household/supplies/storing-water/ or call 03 520 7400 and ask to speak with one of the team at Marlborough Emergency Management.
Nationwide test of Emergency Mobile System
The nationwide test of the Emergency Mobile System will take place between 6.00 pm and 7.00 pm on Sunday 28 May. An alert will be broadcast to all capable phones.
Supporting whānau in difficult times
Can parents and children be better supported during emergencies?
The Marlborough Emergency Management team and Council are working alongside health and education providers to explore how we can better support parents and children before, during and after emergencies.
This could be an extreme weather events such as floods, fires, earthquakes and other hazards.
By filling in this survey we will gain a better understanding about what type of information would help parents to support their tamariki in these events.
It may be specific needs for certain schools or particular ways you would like to receive this information.
Those entering have a chance to win a prize – either a children’s grab bag or a board game.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WMN9WDP
We are also really keen to hear from teachers and childcare providers with their thoughts – use this link to respond- https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/6XMWJLG.
If you have any questions regarding the survey, please contact the Recovery Navigator: recovery@marlborough.govt.nz.
Lance Burdett, author of Dark Side of the Brain, speaking at Millers Rest last week.
Lance Burdett a success
A good crowd turned up to hear Lance Burdett speaking at Rai Valley last Thursday. Jamie from Millers Rest put on a great spread for lunch and those who attended were very positive about the talk.
Roading update
River training works have started this week at the Kennet River in the Awatere Valley. This work is to increase the volume of water flow and further protect river banks and roads.
Works are also continuing to repair a roadside scour, at the Havelock Causeway, 200m from the SH6 turnoff near Havelock.
Culvert works are planned to start next Monday 22 and Tuesday 23 May near Waitaria Bay School. A further closure will be in place on Kenepuru Road, between Portage RP 28.8 for 2km towards The Heads, to RP 30.5 from Wednesday 24 May to Friday 26 May.
Gravel works will be completed in the Titirangi Road area over the next week.
Crews have completed work to further protect Leslies Bridge on Leslies Road, Okaramio. Damaged gabion baskets have been repaired and further rock armour has been placed at this site.
Crews have completed work to remove spoil and debris from theRonga Road slip site, 5.5km from the SH6 turnoff.
Asphalt works have been completed on various sites along Croisilles Road and Croisilles-French Pass Road.
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 phone 0800 213 213 between 8.00 am - 5.00 pm, Monday to Friday or email recovery@marlboroughroads.com.
