More on our Road to Recovery

Published on 20 March 2023

Here’s the latest progress being made on our Road to Recovery plan.

Cyclone Gabrielle Business Recovery Grants Fund

We’re currently processing 330 applications so far. We have $1.42 million allocated from the government to distribute, and we are already well oversubscribed in dollar terms for what businesses are seeking in support Fortunately the government announced last week that another $25 million to be distributed to affected regions. Meanwhile, our Independent Panel meet at the end of next week to sign off first batch of applications.

Mayoral Relief Fund has now closed

We had 204 applications; 15 from community organisations; 125 from small business; 64 from individuals/families. There are a handful of late applications that we are still going to process. Our Mayoral Relief Fund panel is being established and will meet in the next week to make decisions.

Natural Disaster Relief Fund

Department of Internal Affairs has approved funding for our Council to recruit two “Social Navigators,” for our district who will provide support to our Iwi, communities and businesses by connecting them up to the right agencies and support networks.  These roles will sit under the Community Outcomes Group, with the jobs being advertised shortly on our recruitment platform here. 

Promotion and marketing

Destination Hauraki-Coromandel our Destination Management Organisation are working on campaigns to encourage visitors to the district, particularly ahead of Easter. They are working with Waka Kotahi/NZTA about improving directional signage at SH2/SH25 roundabout.

Data of interest

Business Impact Survey Results

These are the results of a Local Business Cyclone Gabrielle Impact Survey our Economic Development Team ran through February to early March. This information is provided with support from all the business associations around the district.

• 267 responses
• 48% of respondents were from the tourism and hospitality industry followed by retail trade which made up 15% of respondents.
• Small businesses were the worst affected, 87% of respondents employ 5 or less full-time staff. 11% of respondents identified as a Māori/Pasifika owned business.
• 95% of respondents that saw decreased sales volumes, 50% or these respondents saw a greater than 60% decrease in sales volumes. 72.41% seeing a greater than 40% decrease in sales volumes from the same time last year.
• 95% of respondents had decreased profits from the same time last year, 35% were anticipating to have to make redundancies as a result of the weather events.
• 80% of respondents said their business outlook for the next 6 months had deteriorated.

Traffic counter numbers for the Pepe Bridge Tairua (SH25)

Figures released for Feb 2023 are the worst ever since data was collected back in 2018 – with only 59,255 traffic movements for that month.

An update from our roading contractors  

Achievements for last week across our district's roading network

• Colville Road was reopened following completion of slip clearances and signing of untreated hazards.
• Lees Road, Hahei - emergency works were completed with a new culvert being installed following failure of the existing one during the storm.
• Concrete barriers have been installed as temporary safety measures in Hahei to contain ongoing rockfalls.
• Slip clearing under traffic management continued across the Coromandel Colville and Mercury Bay areas improving driver conditions.

The following site investigations and assessments continue and are critical steps in designing remedial works at our drop out sites.

• Survey is underway for each drop out site across the network.
• Geotech inspections continue with site assessments, ground testing and option summaries.
• Archaeological assessments for each drop out site started this week.