Photo: Supplied/ Jodie Reed
More than six months after back-to-back floods caused widespread damage across the Tasman District, the recovery is expected to cost the council $50 million and take up to two years to complete.
Record rainfall caused widespread damage across the district, described as the worst in 150 years, after it was hit by devastating floods twice in as many weeks during June and July.
It caused extensive damage to farms and rural properties, with land lost to swollen rivers, crops inundated with silt and fences washed away.
More than 60 roads were closed due to flooding, landslips and fallen trees. and hundreds of homes were assessed for damage. with 36 yellow-stickered and five red.
Nelson Tasman Emergency Management Group recovery manager Richard Kirby said the repair bill after the floods was estimated at $48m, with around three-quarters of that covered by insurance payouts or government contributions, leaving around $12m in costs to the council.
The total cost of damage to river infrastructure was between $23 and $25m, while the roading damage was just over $20m.
Kirby said the cost to private landowners was not known, but Insuranc
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