Recovery Roundup #25

Kia ora koutou,

Welcome to issue #25 of Recovery Roundup.

This week we provide updates on:

Karamea Highway – Work is underway with gathering data and preparing a funding application to Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency for long term repair, while Westreef and their sub-contractors continue work on the road.

Stafford Street driveway work – Expected to be underway from next week.

In other news:

Queen Street tenant feedback – This week we had a chat to temporary housing Queen Street resident Pauline Williamson, to share a bit about her story and get some feedback on the recently tenanted property.

Donations from Lions & Rotary – We thank Lions & Rotary for funding the purchase of pre-loved furniture for Queen & Stafford Street temporary housing.

MH101 – This full-day mental health training workshop is open to anyone interested. It is on Tuesday next week 21st April, at the Westport Bridge Club, 9.00am – 4.30pm. Registration for this event is essential.

For further details on all news and updates this week, read more below. Please note that the Community Hub will be closed over the Easter break.

Ngā mihi, happy Easter weekend!

Did you miss last weeks update? Catch up on all the news here.

STAFFORD STREET DRIVEWAY WORK

Work on the driveway, carparks and road accessway to the Stafford Street temporary accommodation homes is expected to be underway in the next week.

WestReef will recommence the grading, rolling and prep of the areas ahead of chip sealing, after Easter.

The chip sealing of the surface will follow at the earliest suitable weather window, and availability of the Greymouth Fulton Hogan sealing crew.

kARAMEA HIGHWAY UPDATE

Work is under way gathering data and preparing a funding application to Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency for long term repair of the road.

The funding application will be submitted after it has been reviewed in the coming weeks for funding consideration. Works are then likely to take place over the following 12-24 months.

What has been done afer the February flooding events?

WestReef, and their sub-contractors, have been undertaking clearing work, unblocking culverts, removing spoil and slip material from the road.

Initial stabilisation work undertaken on the slump failure at the Seven Sisters corners has gone well with Ground Stabilisation International Ltd (GSI).

A total of 51 defect sites were recorded and inspected on the Karamea Bluffs sections alone.

Lions and Rotary supply furniture for Queen and Stafford Street Housing

A huge thank you to the Lions and Rotary for funding the purchase of preloved furniture from Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Nelson, to provide essential furniture for the six families that moved into Queen and Stafford Street temporary housing. Yet another act of kindness, generosity and support for families that have been affected by floods.

Pictured: Bill Wagstaff from the Whakatu Rotary Club, John Bilderbek, Lions vice District Governor from Nelson, and Mandy Silcock from Habitat sorting furniture for dispatch.

Temporary home is just the ticket for flood weary resident

The smell of a fresh new house, not to mention a washing machine and dryer, are bringing a smile to the face of temporary Queen Street resident Pauline Williamson.

Like so many in and around Westport, the floods have brought plenty of ups and downs to Pauline and her family on their recovery journey.

They’ve been out of their Westport home since the July 2021 floods. After a stint in a motel, Pauline, her partner and adult daughter were able to move into a temporary cabin at the back of their flood damaged Westport house. That was suiting them well…until the February floods saw water coming up through the floor. The damaged cabin removed, back to a motel they went before recently being able to move into their Queen Street temporary home.

By their side the whole way through has been the Temporary Accommodation Service (TAS).

“We’re pretty pleased to be here. TAS have been really good to us, supporting us and looking after us along the way,” says Pauline Williamson.

“The house is brand new. I have never lived in a new house before. It is nice. The second-hand furniture is fine. I’m quite happy with it and there a washing machine and dryer, which we didn’t have in the cabin, so I am happy.”

Pauline’s house is undergoing repairs and she hopes to be back in there in a couple of months’ time. She says juggling her pets throughout has been a bit of a challenge but she is staying positive. Her two dogs are happily living with family members (one has gone to Christchurch where it has now become part of the family), and her two outside cats have stayed at home where they get regular visits with food and cuddles.

About the Queen Street temporary homes:

There are three newly constructed two- and three-bedroom homes, which were relocated from Napier. The properties are owned by MBIE and managed by the Temporary Accommodation Service (TAS) to support flood-affected residents until they can return to their own homes or rebuilds. There is also temporary housing on Stafford Street and planned for Alma Road, Westport.

MENTAL HEALTH WORKSHOP IN WESTPORT NEXT WEEK | REGISTER YOUR INTEREST

MH101® – MENTAL HEALTH WORKSHOP

Buller District Council, West Coast District Health Board and Primary Health Organisation invite members of Westport community to attend a free full-day mental health training course. MH101 – brought to you by Blueprint for Learning with the support of funding from the Ministry of Health.

This course covers:

Stress & wellbeing
Trauma & suicide
Building connections & sharing concerns
When & where to get help when dealing with mental health challenges

Attendees will be given a workbook to keep including information covered in the workshop as a future reference guide, as well as additional information and resources.

Blueprint for learning workshops use first-rate adult education principles to encourage development of skills to help others who need it most. This course fundamentally aims to teach awareness of mental health states, and how to relate to and support people struggling with mental health challenges.

For more information about this workshop and to register, please see the following link >> https://blueprint.arlo.co/courses/4-mh101?e=76310e8c3e20473abf23322a77746de1

MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT

If you’re feeling distressed or worried about how you’re feeling physically or emotionally, reach out to friends or whānau and contact your GP or other healthcare provider for advice. You can also contact the organisations below for help or to find extra support:

It’s important to seek help if you’re feeling distressed

Need to talk? (Free call or text 1737)
Lifeline (0800 543 354)
The Depression Helpline (0800 111 757)
Healthline (0800 611 611)
0800 Whats up
Samaritans (0800 726 666)
Youthline (0800 376 633, free text 234)

NEED TO TALK? 1737

Need to talk? 1737 is a free four-digit phone and text number designed to meet the needs of anyone who wants to talk to a counsellor. 1737 is not tied to a specific mental health issue or condition. It is free to call or text from any landline or mobile phone, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Trained mental health professionals are available to respond to calls, texts, webchat and emails. Call or text 1737 any time for 24/7 helpline

LIFELINE (INCLUDES SUICIDE CRISIS HELPLINE TAUTOKO AND KIDSLINE)

Lifeline’s mission is to reduce distress and save lives by providing safe, accessible, effective and non-judgemental services. The service works specifically to increase awareness and understanding of suicide prevention in Aotearoa New Zealand, resourcing people with effective skills to support others.

0800 LIFELINE (0800 54 33 54) or free text HELP (4357) 0508 TAUTOKO (0508 82 88 65) KIDSLINE 0800 54 37 54