Task group to look at Kaeo flood funding

Private properties devastated by two major flood events in the Far North last year will generally need to look to their own devices for land stabalisation and private access repair work.


However government funding assistance may still be an option as a special case for Kaeo and Matangirau areas in the wake of the March and July floods last year.


A special task force of representatives of the Ministry for the Environment, Department of Internal Affairs and Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management will take a first-hand look at flood mitigation options at Kaeo and surrounding areas on 12 February.


The task force will speak with local government and community representatives and discuss funding assistance options before a final decision is made on any aid package.


Far North District Council flood recovery coordinator Andy Dowdle said today there was still optimism that the Kaeo area would receive financial help.


“The Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management has confirmed that the government has worked with regional and territorial authorities in situations similar to Kaeo in the past.


“However the ministry has made it clear that any aid package will be to help develop long-term solutions to manage the risk of flooding to the community,” he said.


Issues around individual private properties at Kaeo such as raising or relocating houses would be considered as part of a wider long-term flood mitigation programme, the ministry had advised.


“Our role is to do everything possible to attract government funding. It would be wrong to be over optimistic, but there certainly is a glimmer of hope as a result of the government’s decision to send a multi-agency group to Kaeo for a first-hand look,” he said.