Unprecedented devastation, now for the rebuild

Cyclone Gabrielle claimed the lives of 11 people, described as the worst weather event of this century. It devastated Hawke’s Bay, causing unprecedented damage to lives and livelihoods. There was also a loss of life to the north, in Tairawhiti, while two volunteer firefighters also died in a Muriwai landslide.

But while life has returned to normal for many in Hawke’s Bay, many thousands of others across the region still face a long and difficult journey to return to some semblance of normality.

Millions of cubic metres of silt that washed down Hawke’s Bay’s rivers from the hills during Cyclone Gabrielle devastated homes and properties. This meant these communities were still isolated, three weeks after the event: Tutira, Waikoau, Rissington, Patoka, Puketitiri, Dartmoor, Te Haroto, Te Pohue, and Putorino.

Another 23 small pockets of rural homes were unreachable by normal roads and were being supplied via helicopter and Unimog.

Hastings District Council and Hawke’s Bay Civil Defence worked with multiple agencies, including health, Ministry for Primary Industries, WINZ and iwi liaison, to ensure the needs of these communities were met, including sending specialists from these organisations into the isolated areas.

A Silt Recovery Taskforce was recently established in April to address the millions of cubic metres of silt, put together by Hawke’s Bay Regional Council and Hastings District Council. Developing a comprehensive action plan focused on zones with dedicated contractors, Taskforce Lead Darren de Klerk said the task is huge.

“We estimate over five million cubic metres of silt has been deposited on orchards, farms, roads and residential properties across the Hastings district – it will likely take many months, if not years depending on how much silt needs to be removed. We cannot underestimate the scale of the job ahead of us.

“We have developed a system with six zones across the region, and each zone has dedicated contractors to collect silt from orchards, farms, roads and residential properties. The contractors will also be responsible for picking up any remaining flood-damaged household items within their zones, based on requests lodged with Hastings District Council.”

Council is not assisting residents with clearing silt from within properties, the taskforce is collecting silt once ready for collection, but working in with landowners and insurers to streamline the process to minimise unnecessary double handling.

Six silt collection sites have been established to manage the material collected.

“We’re working hard to find sites to put the silt we’re collecting, figuring out if these are temporary or permanent, ensuring we’re following environmental rules and consent conditions, and working in with the Severe Weather Emergency Legislation Bill.

The taskforce is working on a range of options, and working closely with other councils, industry, and landowners to work towards solutions for the region,” Mr de Klerk said.

“We know lots of people in the community are interested and also concerned about what happens with all the silt. Our team is committed to finding the best solutions we can for our rohe, and we will keep the community updated through our website and social media.”

Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said the taskforce had been established in recognition of the need to deal with this enormously hard issue as effectively and efficiently as possible.

“We must help those who are affected to start recovering their properties and restoring their livelihoods regardless of council boundaries.

“To help protect our infrastructure and minimise creating flood hazards, we’re asking residents to gather up the silt and put it within and as close to the boundary of their property as possible, in an area as close as possible to where collectors can get access. This is to keep silt out of drains and reduce the risk of flooding.”

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council Chair Hinewai Ormsby said the taskforce was an important part of the region’s response to the cyclone.

“We’ve seen that working together is the most efficient way to respond to this devastating cyclone. We’re working with Hastings District Council to support the region’s recovery, and this taskforce is committed to work through the issues around silt in our rohe.”

Since its establishment, the taskforce has shifted around 350,000m3 of silt since February, with 199 jobs completed. Ms Ormsby said the taskforce had, to the end of May 2023, spent $9.7 million working through its comprehensive action plan focused on zones with dedicated contractors.

And work continues to progress on rebuilding the bridges, culverts and low-level crossings that were destroyed in the floods. Twenty-two river crossings were impacted across the district, and reconnecting those communities affected has been a priority for Hastings District Council.

Post-Cyclone, a bailey bridge has been installed to replace the Rissington Bridge, a temporary bridge has been instated at Dartmoor, the Ellis-Wallace low-level crossing has been installed in Esk Valley, the Arapaonanui low-level crossing has opened and temporary access has been established for Matapiro Bridge.

A bailey bridge is planned for Ellis-Wallace, and Moeangiangi and Mangatutu low-level crossings, and unless there are unexpected disruptions, these are estimated to open at the end of May. The bailey bridge at Whanawhana was intended to open on May 15.

All of these solutions have been designed to create access as soon as possible with the same level of service retained, but some of the bridges may be subject to weight and speed limits and, as with the rural roading network as a whole, remain vulnerable to further weather events.

Meanwhile, the work programme continues on restoring the other access points.

The demolition of the broken sections of Redclyffe Bridge is entering the second/third week and the work is going well, with three/four weeks remaining. Council is working with the adjacent community through viable options for a temporary solution which could coincide with demolition. The earliest potential date for opening is the end of June.

The design of the Crystal Twin culvert is complete and temporary access has been reinstated for this structure as well as McVicars culvert.

Crownthorpe Bridge is due to be complete at the end of June, and solutions for the remaining structures including Brookfield, Darkeys Spur No1, Puketapu and Kereru Rd Gorge bridges are being investigated.