Govt approves $29m funding for road repairs, more to come

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

The Government will have spent

$29 million on Tairāwhiti roads by the end of June.

The funding will be distributed by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency to Gisborne District Council to be used as part of the initial clean-up after cyclones Gabrielle and Hale.

Gisborne District Council Journeys operations manager Libby Young said work had already started to remove silt, clean up debris, undertake culvert and bridge repairs and remove wood waste.

“This funding covers around

60 percent of the estimated $50 million that’s required to do a full initial clean-up after cyclones Hale and Gabrielle.

“That’s how much it will take to clear all the slips, make safe the faults and instal temporary access to all our communities.

“There are more than 3000 faults that need to be repaired or cleaned up as a result of Cyclone Gabrielle.

“Waka Kotahi asked us to only apply for what we could spend up to June 30, 2023, and to include damage from Cyclone Hale.

“So, we applied for $29 million and we’re very happy to let our community know this has been approved.

“This $29 million includes $2.6 million for damage endured during Cyclone Hale.

“We will apply for further funding over the coming weeks.”

The money will be used to replace or repair 61 bridges, among other things.

The money does not include repairs for state highways, the damage to which is still to be counted.