Half of 6000 sandbags find homes, remainder in storage for future use

Volunteers Tahnee Wallace and Jesse Vigis filling up sandbags for free distribution, at the event at Makaraka on Friday. Picture by Liam Clayton

About 3000 sandbags are now distributed around the region in preparedness for the next heavy rain event.

The sandbags were given away at an event on Saturday, at Makaraka.

It was well supported  by the community, said Tairāwhiti Emergency Management manager Ben Green.“It was highly successful.”

The event was a joint initiative between Gisborne District Council and the Rapid

Relief Team (RRT) and supported by Fulton Hogan.

People were invited to collect up to 10 sandbags for their home or business, if they are in a flood-prone or low-lying area.

The Rapid Sand Bagger machine used on the day is one of only two  in New Zealand.

Mr Green and two of his team joined forces with the RRT and Fulton Hogan to give away pre-filled sandbags to those who needed them most in the  community. All up, 6000 were filled over Friday and Saturday.

The rest of the sandbags will be stored by Fulton Hogan to be deployed when needed.

The preparedness event to pre-fill sandbags was the first of its kind in New Zealand.

RRT donated the sand bagger machine, and their volunteers filled them up and ran a barbecue for the community between 11 and 2 on Saturday by Halbert Road.

Mr Green says whanāu stopped and watched the machine at work and enjoyed the sausage sizzle. Passersby asked questions and even out-of-towners offered support.

“That’s what it’s all abou,” he said.

“The most important thing we can do as a region is prepare. Events like this get us in that mindset of what to do and what is needed ahead of the next heavy rain event.

“If everyone does a little something, it makes a big difference.”

Mr Green said people had the chance to share their stories while picking up the sandbags.

“We enjoyed listening to them and heard how grateful they were for this much-needed community initiative to prepare.

“It’s so important to be working with charities like RRT and local businesses in this community-led event.”

Mr Green particularly wanted to give thanks to RRT board chairman Cameron Prestidge, RRT team leader Clarke Judd and all the Rapid Relief Team for overseeing the sandbagging machine and the barbecue.

“We’d also like to thank Fulton Hogan for hauling and storing the sand, Siteworx Civil for supplying the sand, EastCoast Hire and Porter Hire for their machines, Hirepool donated a chiller and ProTraffic directed traffic management.”

Mr Green said community organisations have asked for unfilled sandbags to be sent up the Coast so they can fill them themselves.