Cyclone Recovery - Omakere and Pourerere

Omakere and Pourerere

Key impacts

 At the height of Cyclone Gabrielle, Omakere and Pourerere were significantly impacted by the damage caused on our roading network.

The key impacts experienced by Omakere and Pourerere  were:

• Isolation from main townships of Waipukurau and Waipawa due to roading access issues.

• Pourerere Road (a priority route) was completely closed due to damage and flooding.

• Telecommunications were down for the first two days.

• Elsthorpe School closed from afternoon of the 13 February until Monday 20 February.

• Significant damage caused to land users, particularly in the farming and agricultural industry.

On Tuesday 11 April the first Community Conversation was held with Omakere and Pourerere communities. Approximately 20 residents attended.

Key issues discussed related to impact of Cyclone Gabrielle on roads, stormwater, communication networks, maintenance of riverbeds and river paths and farming/business continuity plans. Key issues raised have been collated themes and actions in the table below.

The prioritisation of these actions will be done in partnership at a second round of Community Conversations to be held at Omakere Hall on Tuesday, 15 August from 6pm to 7.30pm.

To see our first cut of an action plan for Omakere and Pourerere see below or to see the full Recovery Plan, click here.