Disaster Relief Fund allocates $130,000 to Wanganui - 14/09/2006Wanganui has been allocated $130,000 from a regional fund to assist property owners affected by the July storm.
The Manawatu Wanganui Regional Disaster Relief Fund Trust was set up after the February 2004 floods and leftover funds have been made available following this year's storms. The Trust decided to grant a lump sum to Wanganui District Council and Rangitikei District Council to distribute as their local assessment committees think appropriate.
By the closing date of August 25, the Wanganui District Council had received 91 applications – for a total of $1.77M - to the regional fund, Council's Recovery Manager Alan Perfect said.
"A local committee has been set up to assess the applications," Mr Perfect said.
"The committee has established criteria for funding and is now working through the details in the applications to determine eligibility. Obviously the funds available from the Trust are relatively small in relation to the needs of local property owners so successful applicants will receive only a very small amount."
Claims for boundary fencing and 50 percent of materials, infrastructure (tracks, bridges, culverts etc) and removal of debris from silted areas will be considered. The committee will not consider applications for reimbursement for stock loss or replacement, internal fencing, regrassing slips and grass cost, loss of income or stock feed.
It is likely to take up to two months for the assessment committee to finalise the grants. | 
