| 47 Tasman District Council “They’re out in the field, and if things crop up they can coordinate the resources to help meet people’s needs…” INFRASTRUCTURE Flood recovery Navigators - Annie Leather, Katie Sellers, and Gael Gordon. Edridge Contracting is a trusted provider of roading, infrastructure, civil works, and quarry supplies across the Nelson-Tasman region. • Roading & Infrastructure Construction • Subdivision Development & Site Prep • Bulk Earthworks & Land Contouring • Slip Removal & Safety • Drainage, Stormwater & Wastewater Solutions • House Sites, Driveways & Landscaping • Retaining Structures & Foundations • Quarry Products & Mobile Crushing Our Services: 0800 EDRIDGE 3 Kidson Place, Stoke, Nelson 7011 www.edridgecontracting.co.nz Downer’s Three Waters Construction teamdelivers critical water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure nationally. Downer’s Water Services & Projects team delivers essential water, wastewater, and stormwater services to 1.5 million people across the country, and their local ownership and knowledge make all the di erence when responding to an emergency event. A great example took place in Tasman in June this year, when forecasts con irmed a “river of rain” for Tasman. Local Downer crews prepared for the worst and took action to protect vital water infrastructure to keep communities supplied with safe drinking water and functioning wastewater systems. What followed was unprecedented. The Motueka River surged to its highest low on record, shifting saturated ground and damaging pipelines. Wastewater systems quickly exceeded pumping capacity. Through it all, the Downer Tasman team took charge to protect people and the environment. Working through more than 400 alarms, they prioritised critical responses and restored stability. Every one of the 40 crew members worked around the clock to keep essential services running, ensuring treatment plants and pump stations operating at capacity continued to function safely. Teams repaired burst water mains, maintained wastewater systems, alleviated overloaded stormwater assets, and attended to electrical faults, all while battling relentless rain. Stormwater teams patrolled retention dams every 15 to 20 minutes to remove debris, clear blockages, and reduce the risk of looding to nearby homes and streets. It was all hands on deck. “Our top priority was maintaining the community’s access to clean drinking water and keeping wastewater systems working,” says Andrew Mercer, Senior Project Manager, Downer Tasman. “We were dealing with multiple shutdowns from power outages and, in places like Martins Road, where the road was completely washed out, we had to isolate and repair burst pipes to get water back on within hours.” Downer’s team leaders coordinated closely with Tasman District Council and Civil Defence directing crews wherever the need was greatest. With a network spanning nearly 10,000 square kilometres and serving more than 50,000-plus people, managing the system through the storm demanded precision, teamwork and a shared sense of purpose. “We worked as one with the community the whole time,” Andrew re lects. “I had a farmer crying on my shoulder who’d lost all his livestock. Everyone knew someone who’d been a ected by the loods, which made this personal. We’re part of this place and everyone went the extra mile to help protect our loved ones and our region.” Even as the loodwaters receded Downer kept going, repairing and restoring vital infrastructure across the entire Tasman District and beyond. Their work ensures that people can turn on the tap or lush the toilet without a second thought. Because for Downer’s Water Services & Projects team, it’s never just about ixing pipes or keeping pumps running. It’s about protecting their communities, their homes and the wellbeing of their families, friends, and neighbours. Locals helping locals: Keeping Tasman water flowing through the floods chinery to work and take the cleared silt and gravel away. The Rural Support Trust is actively engaged, and the work of two MPI-funded advocates and three council-funded ‘navigators’ remains vital. “They’re out in the field, and if things crop up they can coordinate the resources to help meet people’s needs, whether they’re practical or psycho-social – telling them what relief funds they qualify for, or steering them towards their insurance person,” explains Richard. There’s no quick fix, and as the months have gone by business owners, lifestylers, and farmers alike have had to dig deep. It’s Richard’s and the Tasman District Council’s hope that everyone is getting the help they need in one form or another, and they encourage people who are struggling to engage with the navigators and get help in accessing what’s available.
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