Marlborough Recovery Update, Friday 2 June 2023
Welcome to the Marlborough Recovery Update bringing youthe latest news on the recovery effort and support available. Newsletters are fortnightly and the next is published on Friday 16 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.
Supporting whānau in difficult times
One of the bags up for grabs.
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, Recovery Navigator Jess Donaldson said.
“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 child’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,” Jess said. You can 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.
Community insurance meeting update
Kenepuru Road property owners with EQC claims met in Havelock recently.
Representatives from Tonkin and Taylor gave an informative presentation on the land in the Kenepuru area explaining why some slips had occurred following the 2021 and 2022 weather events. After the presentation several questions were asked in relation to the Tonkin and Taylor reports that customers have received. The answers clarified that the reports were for insurance purposes only and shouldn’t be used for the purpose of removing placards from affected dwellings.
EQC, insurance companies, assessing agencies, New Zealand Claims Resolution Service and Council’s Building Control representative Brendon Robertson also answered specific questions.
The purpose of the meeting was to provide the community along Kenepuru Road with an opportunity to meet with all representatives Courtney Cramond from IAG said.
Representatives from IAG made themselves available the following week to meet with any customers in the Sounds.
For more details or if you have any issues arising from the meeting please contact the Recovery Navigator at recovery@marlborough.govt.nz
Marlborough secures road recovery funding
Marlborough District Council has been successful in its bid to gain further central Government funding to help repair its storm-damaged roads. Two heavy rain events in July 2021 and August 2022 caused extensive damage across its network running into the hundreds of millions of dollars.
Last week the Waka Kotahi board agreed to fund 95 per cent of $52.39M, or $49.77M. The Council would provide the remaining five per cent, or $2.62M.
“This is fantastic news and I’d like to thank everyone who contributed to this outcome,” Mayor Nadine Taylor said.
“Thanks in particular to Waka Kotahi for agreeing to the financial assistance rate (FAR) of 95%. I understand and appreciate the Government is under significant pressure and facing funding requests from North Island regions for the Cyclone Gabrielle recovery and rebuild.”
The new funding enables Awatere Valley, Northbank and Waihopai Valley road repairs to be completed, as well as a one-year extension of barge and water taxi subsidies in the Marlborough Sounds. The new money also includes funding for design for repairing high priority sites on Queen Charlotte Drive, and costs for some repairs in the Sounds that are necessary to maintain access, prior to the outcome of the Marlborough Sounds Future Access Study.
“This is great news for our communities. There is however some way to go with the next round of public engagement Council is conducting on the Marlborough Sounds Future Access Study coming up at the end of this month, when we will be seeking public feedback on the ‘emerging preferred option’ for each of the five damaged areas in the Sounds.”
Previous funding allocations of $85.3M and $3.45M were provided at a 95% FAR by Waka Kotahi, bringing Marlborough’s total storm recovery funding to date to $141.14M.
Are you prepared for an emergency?
The July 2021 and August 2022 weather events in Marlborough caused severe damage that is still affecting many people.
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 previous newsletters we’ve looked at accessing information and checking your food and water supplies.
This week we will look at evacuating and what to take with you.
Storms can result in flooding and severe weather can cause landslides. This means you might need to leave home quickly. If you’re asked to evacuate, don’t hesitate; it’s for your safety. If you don’t feel safe at home, don’t wait for an evacuation order. Remember to have a plan with your whānau/family about how you could evacuate and where you can go until it’s safe to return home.
If you’re leaving in a hurry take your grab bag with you. A grab bag or getaway kit contains the essential items you will need in an emergency including medication, basic food supplies, cash and a phone charger. Get together with the rest of your household and make grab bags for everyone.
If you are on medication, try not to let it run out before you refill your prescription.
Go to the Get Ready website for more information about making a grab bag
Go to the Get Ready website for more information on flooding
Go to the Get Ready website for more information on landslides
or you can contact the Marlborough Emergency Management team on Ph: 03 520 7400.
Stay safe, stay informed
It’s important to keep yourself informed about emergencies that could affect you and the people and places you care about. In an emergency follow the Council‘s Facebook page and website and look out for Antenno updates on your phone.
Antenno is a notification app that alerts you to water shutdowns, local road closures and even changes to waste and recycling collections. Free to install, Antenno is available on Apple and Android smartphones and no personal information or login details are required. You simply save the locations you want to be informed about, such as your home address, workplace or school. When Council posts an update relevant to your chosen locations, you receive a notification.
Go to the Antenno page on our website to learn more about Antenno including how to download the app
Even when other means of communication are lacking, AM/FM radio is usually available. Locally, Brian FM can keep you up to date with critical information.
Be sure to download Antenno – a free to install notification app that alerts you to water shutdowns, local road closures and even changes to waste and recycling collections.
Calendar
Community drop-in sessions for the Marlborough Sounds Future Access Study
If you plan on attending please RSVP on the following link https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc5G7BYyceu_xfyXP2nnTHnNGePyildq1oRodpYHsC9IvQo3w/viewform
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
The Engagement Document and other supporting documents will be available on the Council website from Friday 16 June.
Roading update
River training works were completed this week at the Kennet River in Awatere Valley. This work was to further protect the riverbank and road.
Works are nearing completion on a roadside scour, at the Havelock Causeway, 200m from the SH6 turnoff near Havelock. Concrete was poured on the final section this week and final clean up works planned to be completed next week. Slip clearance has also been undertaken on Queen Charlotte Drive.
Hydroseeding has started on Port Underwood Road this week, along with slip and water table clearance works. In the last fortnight, culvert works were completed on Port Underwood Road at Waingaro Bay, 17km from Picton.
Ground investigation works on Bridge 256 on Waihopai Valley Road commenced this week.
Culvert replacement works are progressing well on Kenepuru Road, with crews currently working between Tara Bay Road to Lawrence Road under the daytime construction closure.
Emergency works started yesterday on Croisilles-French Pass Road at Fitzroy Bay, approximately 2km from the Bryants Road turnoff. These works are being undertaken under a daytime construction closure, with hourly openings.
Asphalt works have recently been completed on various sites along Croisilles Road and Croisilles-French pass Road.
There are no planned works over King’s Birthday Weekend, Saturday 3 to Monday 5 June.
Road Closures
There are daytime construction closures planned from Monday to Friday (not including public holidays) at the following locations, dates and times;
Kenepuru Road
Closures on Kenepuru Road are in place for culvert works. There will be a lunchtime opening between 12.00 pm and 12.30 pm for these closures.
- On Friday 2 June between Tara Bay Road and Lawrence Road (Rp28.1) from 8.00 am to 12.00 pm.
- FromTuesday 6 June, between Tara Bay Road and Lawrence Road (Rp28.1) from 8.00 am to 4.00 pm with a lunchtime opening between 12.00 pm and 12.30 pm.
Croisilles-French Pass Road
Closures are planned for emergency works to be undertaken on Croisilles-French Pass Road at Fitzroy Bay, approximately 2km from the Bryants Road turnoff.
- On Friday 2 June, from 9.00 am to 4.00 pm with openings on the hour, every hour to allow queued traffic through.
- From Tuesday 7 June, from 8.00 am to 4.30 pm with openings on the hour, every hour to allow queued traffic through.
Replaced culvert on Elie Bay 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.
