Ngongotahā flood community group named

A community reference group which will help create an action plan to reduce the risk and impact of future storm events in Ngongotahā has been established.

A total of 94 households were displaced as a result of serious flooding on April 29 last year.

Applications to be on the group were open to the public and project co-ordinator Elva Conroy said she was pleased with the response.

Five community members, three iwi representatives and two elected members would make up the group.

Conroy said in a Rotorua Lakes Council release that those selected to be on the group had a strong connection to the community.

Image 1 of 61: Flooding in Rotorua. Cormac Davis, 12, . Moncur Dr. Photo/Ben Fraser

"They have a good understanding of the Ngongotahā catchment and community. Some, but not all, were directly affected by the 2018 flood and there is mixed representation of locations within the catchment."

Lyall Thurston was the Rotorua-based councillor on the group for the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Rotorua Lakes Council last week approved its Rural Community Board chairwoman Shirley Trumper to be its representative on the group.

The Community Reference Group would meet in the coming weeks to decide on their work programme.

They would provide advice and recommendations to both councils and would lead community engagement and consultation around the development of plans for short, medium and long-term actions.

Community Reference Group members:

-Heather Brake
-Simon Short
-Sarah Thomson
-Elliot Pollard
-Keith Garratt

Iwi representatives:

-Guy Ngatai - nominated by Ngāti Ngararanui Iwi Trust
-Joe Edwards - nominated by Ngāti Tura Ngati Te Ngākau
-Te Poari Newton - nominated by Ngāti Whakaue

Elected members:

-Lyall Thurston
-Shirley Trumper