Cyclone damage to cost council ‘six figures’

Thames-Coromandel District Council expects the clean up of ex-Cyclone Hale, which hit the district this week, will cost in the “serious six figures”. 
The ex-cyclone left significant damage along the east coast of the Coromandel, especially between Cooks Beach and Matarangi.
According to a post on council’s social media, its staff and contractors have done an initial assessment and have started urgent repairs and clean up.
“We need to prioritise what gets fixed, and when,” it said.
While no exact cost figures are confirmed yet, the council expects the bill to repair the coastal areas from ex-Cyclone Hale will run into “serious’ six figures”.
“We’ve already made a start removing debris, and fixing and fencing off infrastructure and assets along the coast that pose health and safety risks or have been damaged and are unsafe to use.
The weather forecast for later next week does show another swell event, so we’ve decided to wait before starting to reshape the beach accessways until Monday, when we have more certainty around that event.”