This week marks the second anniversary of the August 2022 storm, Nelson’s worst natural disaster in 50 years. The latest rates bill includes the $300 annual storm recovery charge to fund Council’s share of the $90 million costs. It’s a good time to report on the progress of the recovery work.
We are more than halfway through the infrastructure repairs that started with the Maitai Dam water main and the State Highway to Blenheim. We’ve fixed the roads to Cable Bay and The Brook as well as Moana Ave, Devenish Place and Atmore Tce. We completed the new bridge and replacement pump track at the Waahi Taakaro Golf Course. We’ve removed 43,000 cubic metres of gravel from our rivers and streams to restore their flow capacities and 97% of the trails have been restored across Nelson reserves.
The greatest engineering challenge has been the 550 landslips. I am particularly proud, having a PhD in landslides, of the groundbreaking technology we are using to stabilise the most complex landslips.
The most difficult political problem has been finding a solution for those with homes threatened by landslides but too expensive to make safe. The pragmatic solution of a buyout is progressing well with 10 properties bought and the remainder on target to be settled this year.
A key focus of my work has been securing as much Government support as possible. Despite initial refusals, we have secured nearly $30 million in help for the recovery work and $9 million for improving future resilience.
I want to thank the contractors and consultants out doing this repair work, much of it in muddy conditions and on steep, dangerous sites. I also want to acknowledge the support of taskforce members, Councillors Trudie Brand and Matty Anderson, and our Council recovery staff, led by Alec Louverdis and Bevan Thompson.
I also thank the Nelson public for their tolerance of the disruption and understanding over the considerable cost burden. We are making greater progress than other regions facing similar challenges. We are building back better, making a more resilient city. I am determined we push ahead and get the job done.
