$400,000 funding boost for West Coast flood recovery

The government has announced an extra $400,000 to help West Coasters recover from the devastating March floods.

The mayoral relief fund will be given $75,000, which will be used for work where financial support is not available through insurance or other sources. Minister of Civil Defence Kris Faafoi said the fund can include, but is not limited to, essential items, additional financial burdens arising from the weather event, family or personal crises, or extraordinary costs for not for profit organisations.

Other funding includes $200,000 from the Department of Conservation, $100,000 from the Ministry for the Environment and $30,000 for Rural Support Trusts.

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Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage said the $200,000 in DOC funding will provide the logistical and practical support needed to properly clean-up the rubbish washed out from the Westland District Council’s Fox River landfill.

“This support is on top of the $130,000 in staff time, helicopter time and other support the Department has already provided to support the council with clean-up efforts,” Sage noted.

Environment Minister David Parker is making $100,000 available for the river clean-up from the Contaminated Sites Remediation Fund.

Moreover, extra funding of $30,000 will be provided to the Rural Support Trusts, as a medium-scale adverse event in the Westland District has also now been declared. Minister for Agriculture and Rural Communities Damien O’Connor said the funding will offer increased psychosocial support for South Westland farmers and others affected by the major storm.