9 July 2007

N E W S R E L E A S E

Council Offers Help to Kindy, Building Owners

Help is being offered to Kaitake Kindergarten and building owners by New Plymouth District Council following two days of tornadoes last week.

The kindergarten has been left with a damaged building and play area, and a lawn with broken glass through it.

“We want to help get the kindergarten up and running as soon as possible, so the council will lay new grass, replant the garden and lay new bark beneath the play areas when the site is ready for the work,” says Mayor Peter Tennent.

“This is about getting the Oakura community operating normally as soon as possible, and the kindergarten will need a lot of help before it can open its doors again.”

Donations to the kindergarten can be made to any branch of TSB Bank, while donations to the Taranaki Disaster Relief Fund – to help the communities throughout the region affected by the tornadoes – can be made at any BNZ branch.

To help home owners and businesses in the district recover from the tornadoes, NPDC is committed to processing building consents and certificates of acceptance for repair work as soon as possible.

“Where significant repairs to a building are needed, our building control staff are working alongside builders and insurance assessors on the scope of remedial work and the way in which it is recorded,” says Manager Consents Ralph Broad.

“That will enable us to issue a certificate of acceptance for the repairs under the emergency work provisions of the Building Act, so where possible we will get people into their homes as soon as we can.

“However some situations are more complex, requiring assessment by a structural engineer, specialised design and several weeks of building work.

“In these situations a building consent is needed, which provides evidence to both current and future owners that the repairs have properly restored the structure of the building. Building consent documentation and inspection records certainly hold much more weight than a certificate of acceptance,” says Mr Broad.

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Mayor Pete paid tribute to the many volunteers who have helped out in the last few days, saying it is that “get stuck in and help” attitude that will see residents in Waitara, New Plymouth, Oakura, Okato, Rahotu, Pungarehu, Manaia, Hawera, Normanby, Stratford, Inglewood and all the rural areas affected by the tornadoes to get back on their feet again.

“So many television, radio and newspaper stories about these events have mentioned the resilience of the communities throughout Taranaki that were affected by the tornadoes,” he says.

“I’ve had messages of support from around the country and, without fail, they mention how great it is to see such a strong community spirit and people looking after their neighbours as well as strangers in need of help.

“Seeing what our communities can do in such difficult times, I’m so proud and grateful to call Taranaki home,” says the Mayor.

Says Deputy Mayor Lynn Bublitz: “Now is when the reality of the damage to homes and businesses will be felt by those who have been in the path of the tornadoes.

“There is a lot of work ahead of us to repair all the damage and I’m sure our communities will come out of this stronger than before, but if anyone wants advice or just someone to talk to they can phone the welfare hotline on 0800 779 997.”

ENDS

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