TFGs clean-up lifts spirits

NEARLY 40 properties have now been visited in the Manawatu District by the Enhanced Task Force Green team as it continues an eight-week deployment helping residents with clean-up operations after July’s devastating storms.

The five-member team has mostly been in the Pohangina Valley or near Apiti - areas that bore the brunt of gale-force winds that uprooted hundreds of trees – and spent anything from half-a-day to three days on any one property.

Emergency Management Officer, Ross Brannigan, said the project had gone well, with the team’s appearance appreciated by all property owners, whether they were running big farms or small lifestyle blocks.

Mr Brannigan said TFG’s work centred mainly on areas that were impacting on the property owner’s ability to function, such as clearing fallen trees off fence lines. Branches were also dragged into big piles for a later burn-off.

“The work carried out has given the owners some light at the end of the tunnel,” he said. “The team has not been able to clear everything up, but it’s made a start, and that makes a difference. A lot of people were staring at a brick wall, but this has certainly lifted the spirits.”

Team Supervisor, Brett Gray, said the team had enjoyed the work and helping people out, “and seeing the smiles on their faces when we showed up was priceless”.

He said many properties had been hit hard and the amount of debris collected ensured there would be some big burn-offs to come.

“The trickiest and most difficult parts involved working near and around trees that were lying up against each other. You couldn’t work under them, so they had to be left or dropped to make things safer.”

Mr Gray said team members had learnt a lot and hopefully this would lead to future employment opportunities.

Two property owners in No 1 Line, Pohangina, Peter Curran and Cynthia Davey, who lost hundreds of trees to the winds, attest to the positiveness and professionalism of the team.

Mr Curran said they had lifted months off his workload and by chopping up the trees and stacking the slash had re-opened up grazing opportunities for stock.

“One quote I received for a clean-up ran into many thousands of dollars, so they have saved me time and money. They were a great bunch of blokes and I’d be happy to have them back.”

Mrs Davey was thrilled with the work carried out by the TFG members and felt they should set themselves up as a permanent team.

“If it wasn’t for them we would be clearing up ourselves for years on end. They worked really hard and as a team – we were very impressed,” she said.