Flood Relief Funding

The Times-Age asked what priorities MDC would have for funding announced by the Government for cyclone and flood relief. The following response was provided, attributable to Kaine Jaquiery, Roading Services Manager:

Masterton District Council welcomes the Government's announcement of a billion dollar flood and cyclone recovery package, which will provide crucial support to our communities affected by the recent extreme weather events.

Our top priority is the urgent repair and rebuilding of our rural roading network, which was severely damaged by the recent cyclones and floods, compounded by the record-setting wet year in 2022. We have identified approximately 40 sites requiring urgent action, amounting to tens of millions of dollars. Funding support from the central Government will be required to ease the financial burden on ratepayers.

Overall, we are grateful for the Government's ongoing commitment to supporting our communities as we recover and rebuild from these devastating natural disasters. Work continues on the response activities from both cyclone Hale and Gabrielle, and we are now planning our the recovery phase for these major events, as well as areas affected by the record-wet year 2022. We look forward to continuing to work together with the Government to ensure our communities can thrive in the years to come.