Funding has made things a little easier in Edgecumbe

Images damaged in the flood were restored thanks to the Bay of Plenty Acacia Charitable Trust. Photo/Supplied

On May 8 last year the Lottery Rangitaiki Stopbank Breach Recovery Fund was established.

A sub-committee of the Lottery Bay of Plenty/Gisborne Community Committee, the recovery fund allocated $1 million to provide immediate assistance to Edgecumbe and surrounding communities affected by the stopbank breach.

At the end of March the $1m had been allocated and the fund closed.

Whakatane District Council was one of many business, clubs and organisations to benefit.

The council received just over $300,000 from the trust. Of that, $150,000 went toward funding for Navigators to support and help flood affected individuals, funding for community events, funding for the Edgecumbe Community Plan and to employ an events co-ordinator.

Edgecumbe College received just over $90,000 from six applications.

Funds went toward a raft of events and activities with the main ones being almost $30,000 for sports equipment and $23,750 to enable the use of the swimming pool.

Edgecumbe Primary School was granted just over $100,000 from 10 applications.

The largest amounts were $45,000 for sports equipment and uniforms, to enable full use of the swimming pool and replacement of learning resources.

The Bay of Plenty Acacia Charitable Trust successfully applied to the trust for just over $100,000 to restoring images for Edgecumbe residents and the Edgecumbe Development and Improvement Team received close to $70,000 to enable the painting of the town's mural.

The balance was made up of successful applications from various other groups and organisations including Playcentre, Bluelight, the Edgecumbe Squash and Tennis Club, and Waiariki Women's Welfare League.

Other funding allocated to Edgecumbe residents was $160,000 allocated to 142 applicants from the Whakatane Mayoral Relief Fund, $62,000 has been distributed from the Radio 1XX Charitable Trust to date, $300,000 distributed to affected farmers and growers through the Bay of Plenty Primary Sector Recovery Grant and $200,000 to affected businesses through the MBIE Business Recovery Fund.

Numerous other business and organisations have donated to affected residents including the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation which gave each flood-damaged household a $700 gift card.

In September last year, 10 "hot-spots" were set up to provide free Wi-Fi throughout Edgecumbe and the surrounding area.

The Liveable Homes Project saw 17 houses made habitable for people who did not have the means to repair their homes and was funded by BayTrust, JN Williams Trust, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Southern Trust, The Lion Foundation and Rotary District 9930.

In addition, Eastern Bay Energy Trust contributed a grant that enabled more than 200 homes to receive free insulation.