Rotorua Lakes Council has called for an independent panel to be created to review the cause of the flooding that overwhelmed the city.
The review will focus on what happened and what can be learned from it.
Mayor Steve Chadwick told the Rotorua Daily Post the independent panel would look at the flood mitigation and prevention measures and include Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Rotorua Lakes Council staff.
"I think it [a review ] is very timely now, council has agreed, that now is the right time for us to do this."
Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick and Rotorua Lakes Council chief executive Geoff Williams announce a review. Photo / Stephen Parker
Chadwick said the panel would be named after the terms of reference were worked through by the councils' chief executives.
"We will get those finalised by the end of May and I hope that the panel reports back to us by the end of August.
"We want to know the answers to the community's concerns, questions that they've raised ever since day one of this extreme weather event and are still asking.
Flooding in Rotorua on April 29. Photo / File
"They are deserving of answers but also it's to know what sort of mitigation measures do we look at in terms of infrastructure, in terms of our planning and our engineering that could mitigate in any future events."
Rotorua Lakes Council chief executive Geoff Williams said the panel would be looking to understand the circumstances that led to the flooding in Ngongotaha and learn from it.
"The people on the panel will need a level of independence but they'll also need professional skills in terms of engineering solutions, planning, mātauranga Māori, but also what our district is looking to do in the future."
The panel will consider regional and district planning, engineering options, stormwater, catchment management, future land use and subdivision development considerations and mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge).
Chadwick said the council was still painting a full picture of damage with 95 homes declared unsanitary.
"We are still urging those who know somebody affected to please register because this review will need a very full and detailed picture for them to consider all of the aspects that have led to that event."
Savannah Rogers, 11 looks out over flooding in Ngongotaha in April. Photo / Stephen Parker
The community will also be consulted during the review.
"This whole review is not about apportioning blame, it's actually about looking at what are the things we could do better and how do we position ourselves and face the future?"
The council also announced a Mayoral Manaakitanga Relief Fund today.
Donations made to this relief fund will now go to the Mayoral Manaakitanga fund. Photo / Supplied
The fund will provide a one-off hardship grant to affected residents.
"We'll have a very small panel … those that will consider who meets the criteria and probably an amount that is going to help them through their immediate relief needs," Chadwick said.
"It's a fund that will help the real stress felt in some of our community."
An Antarctic storm is expected to hit New Zealand with rain starting tomorrow and setting in on Saturday.
Relief fund eligibility: • Applicants must be experiencing hardship as a result of the April flooding • Must be registered as having been affected with the council • Applicants should not apply if costs have already been covered by insurance but may be eligible if that assistance has not substantially reduced financial loss or hardship • Applicants must disclose insurance information if applicable • An assessment committee will approve or decline the grants • Call 07 348 4199 • If there is money left over it will be distributed with help from the Geyser Community Foundation
