An aerial image shows the extent of the flooding in Tasman in July. Photo: Tim Cuff / POOL
The government has announced $2 million in funding to go towards the disposal of flood waste in Tasman.
Storms in June and July caused widespread flooding across the district, with many farmers and landowners still cleaning up their properties.
Environment Minister Penny Simmonds said the grant came from the recently established Emergency Waste Fund.
Tasman District Council recovery manager Richard Kirby said the total bill for the flood damage and subsequent clean-up stretched into the "many millions", so the additional waste funding was very helpful.
He said it would cover around 70 percent of the cost of flood and storm-related waste disposal.
It would go towards the ongoing clean up of coastline and river corridor debris, the removal and management of silt from around critical infrastructure, homes and horticultural properties, the disposal of flood damaged household goods and the management of woody debris, rural plastics and hazardous waste on public land and private property.
It would also help with receiving and processing fence posts. Tasman District Council had already processed and donated 8000 re-purposed vineyard posts for farm fencing.
Kirby said he also welcomed assistance from the Ministry for the Environment to apply for a waiver of the waste disposal levy to further reduce the financial burden of disposing of silt and other flood-related waste.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
