This weeks  Tararua District Cyclone Gabrielle Recovery Programme update focuses on four of our recovery pillars; Social & Rural Recovery, Build Recovery and Natural Recovery.

Social & Rural Recovery
Mayoral Relief Fund

Through the many generous donations we’ve received and continue to receive, we have funds
available in our Mayoral Relief Fund. The fund is open to Tararua District residents, ratepayers,
farmers or small business owners (including self-employed people and sole-traders), and
not-for-profit organisations who have suffered financial hardship because of damages
caused by Cyclone Gabrielle. Find the application form on
www.tararuadc.govt.nz/mayoralfund, or pick up a form from our service centres.

Built Recovery: Roads

Enabling work has started to establish temporary access through the Marainanga Gorge.
Following the cyclone, the initial focus was to stabilise and improve the critical lifelines to
the Ākitio and Owahanga communities via the only other access, River Road, and make it
usable for all forms of traffic. Now we are starting to shift our focus to other high priority
works. Waka Kotahi have provided upfront funding to create temporary access through
the gorge as the options for full reinstatement are developed.

Here’s the plan:

* Recover large rocks from the riverbed and place them along the right-hand bank of the
river facing downstream, below the existing road to help reduce future scouring.

* Lower the existing road and use the cut material as fill where the road has been
completely washed away.

* The temporary road will be approximately 4 - 5 metres above average river level

As the enabling works progress, heavier equipment will be brought to site to gain access to
the riverbed, manoeuvre the massive rocks into place, then proceed to lower the road.
At this stage we cannot provide a timeframe for opening, but will restore access as soon
as practicable.

Natural Recovery

Horizons Regional Council presented an update to the Tararua District Council last week.
Visit the Natural Recovery web
pages on our website www.tararuadc.govt.nz/recovery

Government Recovery Unit updates

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has set up a Cyclone Recovery Unit
and sends out newsletter updates. These are available on the Tararua District Council website.
Recovery pages at www.tararuadc.govt.nz/recovery