Port Waikato community members have been heavily impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle.
None more so than the owners and occupiers of properties that have been stickered following a rapid assessment by Council building inspectors and an independent geotechnical engineer.
We acknowledge that this is a worrying and frustrating time for those people.
The following information is designed to help people through the process of having those properties re-assessed, with the ultimate aim being to be able to get back into those properties where possible.
The properties with red and yellow stickers (placards) on them are predominantly on Maunsell Road. They were stickered for a variety of reasons – from structural damage, to flooding damage, to the instability of ground above the properties due to slips.
Red stickers
The property cannot be used and entry to buildings is prohibited because it has sustained moderate or heavy damage, or that there is a significant risk from unstable land above a property due to a slip, and all this poses a significant risk to health or life.
If you own the property, further investigation and repairs are required before the building is safe to use.
Yellow stickers
The building may have moderate damage and access is restricted. Access may be restricted to some of the building only, or may be restricted for short-term entry only.
You may have a yellow sticker on your property if there is a risk of further damage being caused by unstable ground above the property due to a slip.
If you own the property, further investigation and repairs are required before the building is safe to use.
What happens next?
Rapid assessments are an initial safety check. Affected property owners then work with insurance companies as a first step and depending on the damage to property, they may need to speak to a suitably qualified builder, Geotech engineer or tradesperson.
Once there is evidence of suitably qualified experts having undertaken the remedial work required, Council will then be able to reassess the stickers on the buildings.
This is to make sure the buildings and ground on the property is safe.
It is important that any work is done in liaison with Council and in conjunction with appropriate experts and professionals. This could be clearing of debris, further geotechnical assessments of the ground, septic or water tank repairs or remedial works.
- Before clearing landslide/slip debris, you should seek the advice of a geotechnical engineer.
- Before any removal or repairs to the building structure, retaining walls, demolition or remediation, you must seek advice of a building professional or structural engineer (your insurer will help you decide this).
- If there is damage to water supply or septic tank and field, please seek advice from a registered plumber/drain layer.
- Check your electricity connection is in safe working order. If you have any concerns, please check with a registered electrician.
Again this process can be a frustrating one, become overwhelming and can lead to many questions.
In an attempt to help with this, we have put together the following frequently asked questions with answers.
If you have any further questions, please let us know and we’ll add them to the list.
Frequently asked questions
Council building inspectors and an independent Geotech engineer carried out rapid assessments after Cyclone Gabrielle as an initial safety check. Affected property owners then work with insurance companies who in turn work with EQC as a first step and depending on the damage to property, they may need to speak to a suitably qualified builder, Geotech engineer or tradesperson.
Once there is evidence of suitably qualified experts having undertaken the remedial work required, Council will then be able to reassess the stickers on the buildings.
In the first instance your insurance company and EQC will undertake the assessments and work with suitably qualified professionals to plan for fixes to issues. This process is required as your insurance and EQC will need to also assess the cost of possible fixes.
Council is working with Government to understand how we may assist in this process and support agencies such as EQC to deliver timely outcomes.
Insurance companies work with EQC on claims for remediation work needed. You should automatically have EQCover if you have private insurance when a natural disaster happens. EQCover insures your home and some areas of your residential land against loss or damage from natural disasters like landslips and earthquakes. It also insures your residential land (within limits) against storm and flood damage.
Government has established an extreme weather recovery committee and the Cyclone Gabrielle taskforce to coordinate efforts. Council is now being supported with a direct link to Minister Nanaia Mahuta who will help facilitate across agencies and government departments.
The red and yellow stickers were placed on properties under advice of our building inspectors and an independent Geotech engineer. If you disagree, you’ll need to get our own suitably qualified experts to assess your property and get in touch with Council with the evidence of that assessment.
Depends on the work that needs to be done. To find out if you need consent go to the Build Waikato website.
Council will consider fast-tracking consents and waiving fees for those people who have been displaced from their primary place of residence by cyclone impacts.
You’ll need to get a registered drainlayer to assess this. If it is damaged you’ll need to get a suitably qualified person to design and install a new system. You will need to get a building consent for a new septic system.
Once there is evidence of suitably qualified experts having undertaken the remedial work required, Council will then be able to reassess the stickers on the buildings. When you think this is completed, please send an email, with supporting documentation, to building.enquiries@waidc.govt.nz for a reassessment to take place.
This depends on the assessments done under insurance cover and the advice given from suitably qualified experts.
The Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment has set up a web page to support people who need to find temporary accommodation as a result of Cyclone Gabrielle. For more information go to https://www.tas.mbie.govt.nz/cyclone-flooding/
No – we won't be charging you rates (from the next instalment onwards) until your property is usable.
We have the email addresses and phone numbers of all property owners with red or yellow stickers. We will keep in touch throughout the process.
Council supplied a number of skips to Port Waikato residents to use for two weeks following the cyclone. If you still need one you will need to arrange it through your insurance cover. Another option is to apply for financial assistance on this through the Mayoral Disaster Relief Fund. Applications closed on 14 March. All the details on the fund, as well as how to apply are on our website.