Nelson City and Tasman District councils last week approved the criteria for the Nelson-Tasman Mayoral Relief Fund, for claims arising from the extreme weather events of 27 June and 11 July.
Our region has always been vulnerable to weather systems from the north, but it was very unusual to have two such extreme storms a fortnight apart. It was heartbreaking talking with families who had just cleaned up from the first flood and were then reflooded.
Nelson bore the brunt of the August ’22 storm with the bulk of the damage in the Maitai and Brook valleys, Tāhunanui Hills, Cable Bay and Kokorua, compounded by the closure of State Highway 6 for two months. This year, Tasman District took the biggest hit with Riwaka, Motueka Valley and Wai-iti worst affected.
The cost of August ’22 storm damage topped $150 million. This fell on insurers and owners for damage to private property and about $60 million net for Nelson City Council (ratepayers), mainly for fixing infrastructure. Government (taxpayers) provided $30 million to assist Council but also funded about $20 million to fix State Highway 6.
The total cost from this winter’s events is likely to be similar. There is less damage to private homes but much more to forests, farms and orchards. There will be tens of millions in cost for Tasman District Council to repair its roads.
The role of our Mayoral Relief Fund is not to substitute for insurance, nor to fix infrastructure but to offset personal hardship. In 2022, we raised $834,000 from 933 donations and were then able to assist 249 households, 90% of which were in Nelson City.
We have received donations of $433,000 for this winter’s storms, with $100,000 from Government and $30,000 from Network Tasman. A further $340,000 from the Ministry for Primary Industries is available to help farmers and orchardists recover.
Tasman Mayor Tim King and I say a huge thank you to the donors. We have already received more than 100 applications and paid out $58,000. The bulk of applicants are Tasman people but there are Nelsonians with badly damaged property. We urge those affected to apply for help by the 29 August closing date.
