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Gisborne deputy mayor Josh Wharehinga has welcomed a cost-share agreement for the district’s recovery from Cyclone Gabrielle.
The Minister for Cyclone Recovery, Grant Robertson, has announced a package including $125 million for roads and related infrastructure, $64 million in future flood protection measures, $15 million to buy out properties in category 3 areas where homes cannot be rebuilt because of unacceptable risk of future flooding and loss of life.
There’s also a 10 year, $30 million loan to the council.
Mr Wharehinga says it means government will pick up about 90 percent of the expected cost, which acknowledges the council does not have the resources to deal with such major events.
“Do we still need central government to come on board? Yes. Do we still need to try to cut our cloth? Yes. Will us cutting our cloth alone be enough to fix all of the damage that’s up here? No way. There’s so much,” he says.
Mr Wharehinga says Gisborne District Council has spent around $60 million on roading since the cyclone in February.
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