A district council is hoping to make use of a newly-purchased holiday park to provide temporary housing for residents affected by a recent flooding.
The flooding earlier this month resulted to the evacuation of some 2,000 Edgecumbe residents and damages which the
ICNZ said could cost millions of dollars.
The Whakatane District Council stated that it wants to use the Whakatane Holiday Park as temporary housing for Edgecumbe residents who are still unable to return to their homes, Radio NZ reported.
Mayor Tony Bonne said in an interview on Checkpoint with John Campbell, that the new campground, which was intended as a strategic tourism asset for the council, could fill some of the need for temporary housing.
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He also said people can’t be left to stay in motels for the long-term.
“Insurance companies have limits for how long they can stay there, so we’re working closely with the community,” he said.
“We knew it was going to be a challenge and this solution may just be a temporary one for some people - it’s not going to be the end of the fix.”
Bonne said the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment was compiling a list of people in need of temporary housing, as the council works with the community on other solutions.
They were also considering other options to allow for faster repair of flood-damaged houses. A shortage of builders in town, however, could pose problems in the coming months, Bonne noted.
Related stories:
Edgecumbe claims mount
ICNZ issues flood warning for Bay of Plenty
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