Kia ora koutou
It has been another productive week within the Flood Recovery team and we are making positive progress against the milestones outlined in the Flood Recovery Action Programme (RAP). The RAP provides direction for restoring and enhancing our district following the July 2021 flood; it’s about rebuilding our community in a future-focused way, making the most of opportunities and paving the way towards a strong, resilient and successful Buller District. Learn more about the flood recovery effort on the BDC website https://bullerdc.govt.nz/distr…/your-council/flood-recovery/
Operation Outreach:
House and welfare checks have been completed this week by the Operation Outreach team. The purpose of Operation Outreach has been to connect with affected residents and home owners of red and yellow stickered properties, to complete welfare checks and the conditions of those living in yellow stickered properties.
Operation Outreach also enabled us to gauge how much of the rebuild work is underway and it also identified some immediate welfare needs that will be addressed and followed up. Some homeowners have had issues with their insurers, and have been encouraged to connect with Residential Advisory Service (RAS) via the Community Hub. See Community Meeting Invitation for homeowners of red stickered homes below.
Whilst Operation Outreach wraps up today, the team understand that there are people they will have missed, and will continue to touch base with as many affected residents as possible.
Temporary Accommodation:
Work is ongoing with our partner agencies around welfare and temporary accommodation. The Flood Recovery team has been working closely with Temporary Accommodation Service (TAS) and Kāinga Ora to prepare for the relocation of 3 TAS & 5 Kāinga Ora houses. You may start to notice some physical work in the community from next week, with the first of the houses set to arrive on the 17th of October.
Community Hub:
175 Palmerston St (old Plumb Duck Building)
The Westport Flood Recovery Community Hub is our one stop shop for flood affected residents and the wider community. This week the hub has seen an increase in visitors as a result of Operation Outreach, seeking support on a raft of issues including insurance, accommodation and access to Residential Advisory Services (RAS).
Our Community Connectors have now been appointed and will receive their training next week delivered by Poutini Waiora as part of their induction for the role.
If you need help to understand your options, or a hand to complete forms, pop along to the Community Hub and meet with the team for a cuppa and a friendly chat. Operating under Covid-19 Level 2 guidelines, the Community Hub is open Monday to Friday from 9.30am-4.00pm and also on Saturdays between 12.00-2.00pm.
Noho ora mai
