Many contractors leapt to action after the cyclone, using their machinery to help homeowners, orchardists and farmers clear silt and debris. Photo: RNZ / Jemima Huston
Contractors helping communities clean up after Cyclone Gabrielle say they desperately need government support to continue.
Like many people and organisations, contractors leapt to action after the cyclone, using their machinery to help homeowners, orchardists and farmers clear silt and debris.
But almost a month on, Civil Contractors New Zealand chief executive Alan Pollard said they could not continue much longer without funding.
"It's got to the point where it's just not sustainable to continue to provide those services for free if they want to, you know, continue to be a business."
Pollard wrote to ministers asking for financial assistance, but had not heard back, he said.
Local machinery operator Cameron Young clearing silt from a Puketapu orchard. Photo: RNZ / Maja Burry
Construction Minister Megan Woods' office said Woods was aware of concerns about the need for a coordinated response and funding to address silt removal in Hawke's Bay, and this was being urgently reviewed.
Last month the government announced $250 million to help Waka Kotahi and local councils to assess and fix roads, which Pollard said was absolutely appropriate - and he wanted that kind of support.
"I'd like to see similar amounts put in to clearing residents' homes, orchards, farms and so on.
"A small amount of money has been made available to the rural sector but it's just simply not enough for the massive task that is in front of us.
"Apple orchards have a metre to two metres high of silt in their orchards, and there was a real opportunity to help them save their trees, and that opportunity is pretty rapidly going."
Pollard acknowledged the contracting community been willingly volunteering until now, but said it wasn't a sustainable model.
"We have to invest in our communities, we have to try and restore some semblance of order back in those communities and that's going to take a massive effort and a lot of money to do it.
"We're ready to go, but it's just lacking that direction and that necessary funding to help get that under way."
Pollard said contractors had been working with the horticultural sector and rural community through Federated Farmers to coordinate a collective approach to the response, but wanted government direction and support urgently.