Whakatane District Council has approved a ‘Liveable Homes' programme, designed to ensure all homes damaged in last month's floods can be repaired to a habitable standard, regardless of owners' personal circumstances.

Liveable Homes is a key initiative for the Whakatane District Recovery project and aims to provide a hand-up to people who don't have the means to repair their own houses.

"The risk of not proceeding with the project is a community divided into haves and have-nots," says chief executive Marty Grenfell.

'We know that if we don't take action, up to 100 homes may have to be abandoned because the owners will not have the financial means to be able to repair them.

'This project will tackle that issue head-on and avoid a situation where every second or third home in the worst-affected areas is derelict and deteriorating. If our communities are truly going to recover from this disaster, they can't be studded with abandoned homes and overgrown sections.”

Mayor Tony Bonne describes Liveable Homes as a unique project which provides a 'way forward for communities caught up in disaster”.

'This is project that provides a hand-up for people who need help to be able to get their lives back on track, so that when we look back on this terrible situation in years to come, we can truly say that we have a community which has recovered and, if anything, is stronger and more resilient in its ability to deal with adversity.”

Property owners taking part in the project are required to sign a contract which confirms they do not have the means to undertake the repairs themselves.

The agreement covers phase one of the project only, with the second phase dependent on funding contributions and donations of building materials and skilled labour being secured.

Phase one involves the strip-out and disposal of flood-damaged wall linings and floors, to allow the building structure to dry-out.

Phase two will see GIB-board walls replaced and stopped and plywood flooring installed. Floors and walls in ‘wet areas' (kitchens and bathrooms) will also be sealed.

Anyone wanting information about the insulation aspect of the programme can contact the Liveable Homes team on 0800 306 0500.