Taskforce Green Complete Work

The end is in sight for Taskforce Green workers assisting farmers with flood recovery work around the district.

Over the past 12 weeks, three crews of six have carried out work on 56 farms affected by the April floods, doing anything from silt removal to clearing fencelines.

Recovery Manager Des Jane said it had been a hard slog, but the effort put in by the workers has been appreciated by those whose farms were affected by the severe weather.

“These guys have really stepped up to the mark and put in the hard yards to do a good job. They’ve pushed through a lot of work in the past few months,” he said.

WDC worked closely with Work and Income New Zealand to source the labour for the teams, which are made up of local workers, most of whom have some experience in general farm work.

Farmers signed up to receive help from Taskforce Green by reporting damage to WDC soon after the flooding. Most work was carried out at Mahia, the area between Waiatai Valley to Nuhaka, and south of the Wairoa township.

“The farmers directed the teams to do the work they felt was most urgent, and the response I have had is that they have been very happy to have the guys there,” Mr Jane said.

“This is a great example of how Wairoa people can see that a job needs doing and just get on with it,” he said.