Trust investment to ensure healthier, Liveable Homes

The Eastern Bay Energy Trust has announced funding towards ensuring that all of the district’s flood-effected residents return to warmer and healthier, insulated homes.

The funds are being made available to the Whakatane District Council Liveable Homes Project, which is coordinating qualified tradespeople and volunteers to help uninsured and underinsured homeowners to repair their houses to a habitable standard.  The Project could involve up to 282 identified properties, most of which are in Edgecumbe, but include a number in the wider Rangitaiki Plains, Paroa, Taneatua and Rūātoki areas.

Acting Chairman of the Eastern Bay Energy Trust, David Bulley, says the Trust wanted everyone to have the opportunity to benefit from improved insulation as part of the support package. “Our support also extends to those who are insured, but who may find that their rebuild cover doesn’t extend to installing insulation. If that’s the case, our funding will be available to meet the cost.”

Welcoming the grant, Liveable Homes Project Coordinator John Pullar says EBET’s support will play a crucial role in delivering a key community disaster recovery project. “Liveable Homes aims to ensure that people with flood-damaged houses who don’t have the means to repair them to a liveable standard don’t get left behind. We want everyone in our community to be back home before Christmas.

“The Liveable Homes team is asking all affected property owners to meet with a member of the restoration team to confirm their situation and any assistance required to allow them to repair their homes. People with yellow-stickered homes which are insured, who would like more information on the insulation part of the programme, are also asked to call into the Liveable Homes project office at the Edgecumbe Library, or to ring 07 306 0500 to register their personal and property details.”

Mr Bulley added that the Liveable Homes contribution was in addition to the investment the Trust had already made through the Horizon Energy Group Relief Package, which includes a rebate on fixed line charges for evacuated Edgecumbe properties, free safety inspections and a $250 credit on electrical repairs carried out by ElectriServ. Details of the Horizon Energy Group Relief Package are available on its website www.hegroup.nz/edgecumbe-relief; and customers can call 0800 377 669 to register their details and confirm if they qualify for assistance.

Meanwhile, the Eastern Bay Energy Trust has made a grant to fund the sound and lighting for the Oho Ake (Rise Up) benefit concert being held at the Te Teko Race Course on 27 May.