Residents to learn fate of cyclone-hit properties

Hundreds of Hawke’s Bay residents who’ve spent the past 31⁄

2 months out of their cyclonewrecked homes will soon learn if they will ever be able to rebuild or return.

These people, from various parts of the region, will learn tomorrow what sort of ‘risk category’ their property now sits in. So far they have only been informed of the three types of ‘risk categories’, but not which properties will fall into each category.

The categories vary from Low Risk, where homes can be rebuilt on the same site to High Risk, where no rebuilding should occur.

A statement issued by all the region’s councils this week said assessments of affected properties would be completed by today and residents would be informed directly tomorrow which category their property fell in.

The assessments involved the use of data from a range of sources, including the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, the Ministry for the Environment, and claims data from insurance companies.

‘‘For those with properties located in category 2 or 3 areas, these initial assessments will only be the start of the decision-making process, with an engagement process with impacted communities expected to commence by midJune,’’ the statement said.

Tomorrow will mark the 108th day since Cyclone Gabrielle killed 11 people and displaced thousands.

After the storm, Cyclone Recovery Minister Grant Robertson stressed that the government would not draw out the process of declaring ‘red zones’ as was done following the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, where it took four months (or 122 days).

On Monday, Robertson said ‘‘these aren’t easy issues’’.

‘‘We’re dealing with stuff that is very determinative to the future of individuals and families but also for the councils themselves,’’ he said.