Marlborough Recovery Update, Friday 16 June 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 30 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 next week
The next phase of public engagement for the Marlborough Sounds Future Access Study begins from today Friday 16 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 week’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 a ‘hazard adaptation pathway’ for each area that is a combination of short-term actions and longer-term options in case we get more major weather events.”
“The 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
5.30 pm - 7.30 pm
Zoom online: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81708059434
Tuesday 27 June
10.00 am - 12.00 pm
Rai Valley, The Millers Rest
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 options and hazard adaptation pathways for each of the five areas and ask the project team any questions. An engagement document, background information and videos will help explain the options and will be posted online prior to the drop-ins.
By the end of today 16 June, a link to the survey and more information will be available on the project webpage.
Supporting whānau in difficult times
Do you think 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 extreme weather events such as floods, fires, earthquakes and other hazards.
Recovery Navigator Jess Donaldson said 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 child’s grab bag or a board game. So jump online and enter now at: 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: www.surveymonkey.com/r/6XMWJLG.
The survey closes on Thursday 13 July 2023. If you have any questions regarding the survey, please contact the Recovery Navigator: recovery@marlborough.govt.nz
Marlborough Sounds Barge and Water Taxi Subsidies
With the recent funding announcement from Waka Kotahi Council can confirm the barge and water taxi subsidies will continue through to June 2024.
A review is underway to better understand the future needs to ensure they are sustainable until June 2024. This may mean there are changes to the subsidy current models from 1 August 2023. We will let you know of any changes as soon as possible and will continue to update you via this newsletter and Council’s website.
Rural readiness
If last year’s floods concerned you, now is the time to make sure you are well prepared for any future such events.
An expo, looking at all aspects of emergency preparedness, is planned for Saturday 26 August in the Wairau Valley. Signal your interest now with Angela Woolf on 027 303 8380 or wvruralhubcoordinator@gmail.com
Beef + Lamb New Zealand Marlborough Winter Seminar
It’s time for a night off… the Annual Winter Seminar is an evening of inspiring speakers, delicious food and great company!
Bring your partner and farm team for a relaxing evening meal and listen to a top performing sheep and beef farming couple.
Richard and Becks farm Te Awaawa, a 646ha hill country property near Masterton. They have farmed here for the past 14 years and run 2,700 texel cross breeding ewes and replacements with 100 angus cows and replacements run in conjunction with trading lambs and cattle.
In 2018 they were proud winners of the Greater Wellington Region Ballance Farm Environment Awards and in 2021 were awarded the Wairarapa Sheep and Beef business of the year. They have a strong focus on farming sustainably.
Jarred Mair (Executive director of Te Puna Whakaaronui) will share his insights into the future of Ag Tech, Food and Fibre. Te Puna Whakaaronui provides thought leadership, insights and strategic analysis towards emerging technologies for food and fibre sector transformation.
Date: Thursday 29 June
Time: 4.00 pm - 9.30 pm
Venue: Scenic Hotel Marlborough, 65 Alfred Street, Blenheim
Roading update
Culvert replacement works are due to be completed on Kenepuru and Moetapu Bay Roads by the end of this week.
Hydroseeding has been undertaken in the last fortnight at various locations on Queen Charlotte Drive, Kenepuru Road and Port Underwood.
Pavement works have also been undertaken on Kenepuru Road, starting at the Heads, and moving back towards Linkwater.
Next week on Kenepuru Road, 4km past the Onahau Road turnoff, crews will be installing scour protection on a retaining wall under stop/go traffic management.
This construction of the Havelock Causeway, 200m from the SH6 Havelock turnoff has been completed.
Investigative drilling will be undertaken on Queen Charlotte Drive next week at two locations, between Momorangi Bay and Ngakuta Bay, and 500m prior to the Aussie Bay Campsite when travelling from Picton.
Emergency works have also been completed at an underslip on Croisilles-French Pass Road at Fitzroy Bay, approximately 2km from the Bryants Road turnoff.
Grading and metalling is being undertaken on the unsealed sections of road in the French Pass area along with clearing of water channels and flushing of culverts. These works are planned to continue over the next weeks, weather permitting.
Slip clearance work has been completed on Port Underwood Road and ground investigation works for Bridge 256 on Waihopai Valley Road have also been completed.
Works at Kennet River in the Awatere Valley, on riverbed training to protect the riverbank and the road have also now been completed.
Hydroseeding on Queen Charlotte Drive.
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.
