A new bridge was erected on Mangati Road to replace the one damaged in the February floods.
Ōtorohanga District Council’s mayoral relief fund has paid $165,000 to support people needing immediate help following February’s floods.
Mayor Rodney Dow, just months into his first term, earned praise for his empathy in the wake of the flood, breaking down in front of cameras and declaring “I’ve never been so
Rodney Dow – Otorohanga mayor
emotional in my life”.
The mayoral fund is intended as a last-resort measure, where other sources of assistance such as insurance or government welfare have been exhausted.
At the time, The News reported that after Ōtorohanga Museum called for help more than two dozen people rushed to the whare housing the treasured 13-metre Te Waonui o Tāne waka in Kakamutu Road after it became inundated with flood water from Ōtorohanga Domain.
They spent the evening wading through water taking treasures from the whare to the neighbouring church which stands off the ground.
Ōtorohanga Primary School, in Phillips Avenue, was inundated when the Mohoanui Stream, a tributary to the Waipā River, burst its banks and sewage infected flood water flowed across the playground and into the buildings.
The council says its flood recovery effort is making strong progress.
People Team
It says all affected roads are now open and priority repairs to the district’s water system have been completed.
Council chief executive Tanya Winter says work is underway to ensure long-term sustainable solutions where more complex issues are involved.
“Impacts for hundreds of people and properties have been significant and, in some cases, devastating,” she said.
“Council has arranged community meetings, information packs and one-on-one support for many people. We’re encouraging anyone who needs help to contact us, and we can connect people to support including wellbeing and welfare agencies.”
After the floods, council building inspectors carried out building assessments in the storm-affected areas, using a placard system.
NZ Response Team
Yellow placards indicate limited access only. A total of 23 properties remain with yellow placards, where people are not permitted to return home at this time. For those households, council has organised recovery case managers, offered rates remission and commissioned hazard assessment reports.
The number of properties with white placards, where they are deemed safe, but people are told they should keep monitoring for any damage, has fallen by five to 33.
The council’s recovery transition period ended on Monday having been place since February 25 – after the Civil Defence state of emergency relating to the February floods was lifted.
The transition period has supported recovery work across the district, by giving council powers to manage, co-ordinate, and direct recovery activities.
However, the recovery effort continues for now and we will keep providing support and information to our community.
“We are focused on supporting our communities to remain safe, well and connected. Follow-up work is important so those affected are aware of the assistance available and the pathways to access it,” Tanya says.
Ōtorohanga company Heli A1 used monsoon buckets to wash debris off the slip on Otewa Road in Ōtorohanga.
Mayoral doggo Zeb
