Council
A report from the Invercargill City Council has revealed the estimated cost of last month’s severe storm, with more than $2.39 million already spent or committed as of mid-November. The storm, which struck on October 23, brought widespread destruction, toppling trees, damaging homes, and cutting power to thousands.
According to the council, the clean-up and repairs are ongoing, and the final figure is expected to rise. “It’s too soon to tell the final cost of October’s weather event, or when all the damage will be remedied,” council chief executive Michael Day said.
Parks and reserves accounted for the largest share of the spending, with $930,538 recorded so far. Elderly housing repairs followed at $623,304, and $298,308 has been spent on roading.
Some of the smaller expenses listed included $500 for car paintwork repairs and $215 to replace a cemetery aerial. While these may seem minor, the full list of repair costs demonstrates the broad reach of the storm’s impact.
Day praised council staff for their dedication. “They put in a huge effort and we really appreciated the support, encouragement, and patience the people of Invercargill and Bluff have shown as we worked to get things back to normal,” he said.
The report noted that council staff logged 525 hours of support to Emergency Management Southland over a 15-day period. During that time, the region remained in a state of emergency from October 24 to November 7. More than 10,000 properties were initially left without power, with linesmen working long hours to restore the network.
The council said insurance assessors were continuing to inspect damaged assets so quotes for repair work could be collected. The current figures do not include the cost of replanting trees, and it was also noted that the council does not budget for emergency events.
As the recovery continues, Invercargill residents can expect further updates on the total cost and timeline for full repairs.