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A taskforce of Government agency representatives will go to Kaeo and surrounding areas next week to look at options to reduce flooding and to discuss possible Government funding after last year's two disastrous floods.
The taskforce, comprising Environment Ministry, Internal Affairs and Civil Defence-Emergency Management officials, will meet Far North District Council, regional council and community representatives on Tuesday to discuss options before a final decision is made on aid.
District council flood recovery co-ordinator Andy Dowdle says there's optimism the Kaeo area will get financial help because of the Government's decision to send the multi-agency group to Kaeo for a first-hand look.
The council believes Government funding may be a special case option for Kaeo and nearby Matangirau areas after the devastation caused by severe flooding in parts of the Far North during the March 29 and July 10 storms last year.
In the July deluge, Kaeo was hit by more than 270mm of rain in 24 hours.
Mr Dowdle says the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management has made it clear that any aid package in the area will be aimed at helping develop long-term solutions to manage the risk of flooding to the community.
But the council is also warning that owners of private properties damaged by the two floods last year will generally have to look to their own resources for any land stabilisation and/or private road access repair work being undertaken.
And the ministry has told the council that issues involving individual private properties, such as raising or relocating houses in Kaeo, are considered to be part of a wider, long-term floodwater mitigation programme.
