3 May 2019

$400k more to help West Coast recover from March flooding

4:39 pm on 3 May 2019

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

A Hokitika resident's house has been flooded out.

A Hokitika resident's flooded property after the March rain. Photo: RNZ / Conan Young

Significant rainfall resulted in flooding that saw road closures and slips across the West Coast.

Flood waters washed away the Waiho bridge to Franz Josef, cutting off State Highway 6 to the south of the town, and phone and internet services to Fox Glacier.

The new funding includes $200,000 from the Department of Conservation to support rubbish clean-up from the Fox River landfill, and $100,000 from the Ministry for the Environment for river clean-up.

It also includes a $75,000 contribution to the Mayoral Relief Fund, and $30,000 for Rural Support Trusts.

The $75,000 can be used to alleviate financial hardship following the flooding, while the $30,00 will allow Rural Support Trusts to offer increased psychosocial support

People can also contribute to the Mayoral Relief Fund, as it's open to public donations.

A medium-scale adverse event in the Westland District has also now been declared due to severe rain.

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