$15M flood bill expected

Press, 24 October 1980, Page 9

$15M flood bill expected

PA Dunedin The cost of the flood which devastated the Taieri district in June is expected to be more than $l5 million.; Most insurance claims are[ now settled and the majorityj of Earthquake and War) Damage Commission claims) have been processed. i One outcome is that thei exact co. t of the flood, which lasted for seven weeks, is not known and it is unlikely that a firm figure will ever be available. In some cases costs have been, buried in the accounts of various Government departments and other organisations.

The biggest bill has had to be met by insurance companies and Mr H. J. Little, the area officer of the Insurance Council, estimates this! to be more than $5 million. I The total to be paid out in Earthquake ar.d War Damage claims is not available. Ratepayers in the southern division of .Cliverpeaks County are already aware of

what it is costing to recover from the flood. Rates have been increased to help meet the cost -nd the county will continue to spread the load over the next five y Reading and bridge damage in the county totalled about $1.4 million. Subsidies from the National Roads Board will ease the county’s share.

A bill of about $50,000 will probably have to met) by the county for various! costs incurred by the Civil .Defence • ..ergency. A helicopter-hire bill estimated at $25,000 has to be paid. The county says it was told that the Ministry of Civil Defence would pay but the ; Ministry will pot accept the accounts. So “that the [helicopter company is not [out of pocket, the • county ;has so far paid $17,000 but) will take the matter further with the Ministry. The future of the Outram bridge over the Taieri River which lost three spans on June 5, has not yet been de-

Icided. Work that has already; [been done on the bridge and future restoration will probably cost about $500,000. : However, if a new bridge is I built this figure will be ; doubled. ; Both the Otago Catchment : : ! Board and the Taieri River:, : Trust face heavy bills. The): i total cost is estimated about [; 'sl.2 r ’llion. 11 About $1 million in dam-! age Was done to the Dune- i, din City Electricity . part- h ment’s power station at I;

; Waipori and restoration of roads in the Waipori gorge and villa e will cost another $750,000. Dunedin Airport was clc:ed for more than seven weeks. A" New Z aland lost $1 million and replacement [of the Ministry of Transport’s radio navigational aids could cost almost $3 [million. A decision has not yet been mr/J on whether the surveillance radar equipment Will be replaced. It could affect the cost by $2 million.