Recovery will take time
Ken Swinney, Recovery Manager
Ken says the Southland community is well known for pulling together and helping each other out when times are tough, so it’s more important than ever that we remember people still need help and the recovery from these floods could take a long time.
“As a community we have to find a new normal, it won’t be the same as before, not just physically but emotionally too. There are people who have been forced out of their homes by the flood damage, farmers who have lost their winter feed supplies and businesses who are struggling.”
As part of the recovery plan, local recovery coordinators were appointed in March and they will be the main point of contact for affected communities.
“Our biggest challenges over the next few months will be the Milford Road, getting damaged homes repaired and people back into them and supporting the rural sector to tackle their problems,” says Ken.
“However, people will always be our number one priority, so we need to make sure we are all looking after each other.”
Recovery coordinators
- In Fiordland, where businesses will face disruption from the impacts of the flooding on the Milford Road for some time, Community Board chair Sarah Greaney is coordinating the local recovery, supported by Southland District councillor Ebel Kremer.
- For Eastern Southland the local recovery coordination is being done by Gore District Council team member Shelley Lithgow (focusing on Gore) and Mataura community development coordinator Eleanor Ranstead (focusing on Mataura).
- Recovery coordination for the rural sector continues to be led by the Rural Support Trust.
