Lack of interest sees workshops canned

Two ‘‘wellbeing workshops’’ offered to those living with the big stink from Christchurch’s wastewater plant have been cancelled due to a lack of interest.

The workshops were part of the council’s plans to support the community that is living with the stench.

The two workshops were planned for the evenings of May 25 and June 1 at the Aranui Wainoni Community Centre.

They were going to focus on tools to help in stressful times and be run by an independent health provider.

But the council’s community partnership and planning manager, Gary Watson, said yesterday the workshops had not received any interest.

‘‘The decision has been made to cancel them at this time,’’ he said. ‘‘However should the need arise and the community wish for them to be held, we would be more than happy to facilitate them in future.’’

Don Gould, an advocate for those affected by the smell, said the workshops were ‘‘incredibly poorly presented and communicated’’.

Many affected residents have criticised the council’s communication about the smell and mayor Lianne Dalziel has even apologised for this too, telling residents at a community meeting last week that the council ‘‘screwed up’’.

Gould said he was now talking to the Bromley Community Centre about what sort of community support and wellbeing assistance it could provide.

He said he had no confidence in the council’s community response, and was discussing a plan B ‘‘that is more community-led rather than council-led’’.

Still, the council has promised to provide financial aid to people struggling with the smell. It remains unclear when this support will be in place. More details are expected in coming days, as council staff prepare a report about the financial assistance for a meeting on May 26, where councillors are expected to approve it.

Linwood ward councillor Yani Johanson said confirmation of financial aid was long overdue and urgently needed.

He said he first approached council staff about providing support nearly two months ago.

In an email to the office of the council’s chief executive on March 24, seen by The Press, Johanson wrote: ‘‘This is a really serious situation and we need to increase our support.’’

In his email, Johanson called for more communication and the establishment of a welfare fund to provide respite and help with additional costs.

‘‘There has been no explanation as to why [my concerns] were not addressed when first raised,’’ Johanson said in an email. ‘‘Regardless though the important thing now is to ensure the support is given as soon as possible.’’