Then and now: Edgecumbe before and after devastating floods

Ex-Tropical Cyclone Debbie wreaked havoc in the small community last year.

Contractors have removed the homes damaged by last year's storm in Edgecumbe, following a breach in the stopbank along the Rangitaiki River.

Ex-Tropical Cyclone Debbie wreaked havoc in the small community last April; 15 homes were red-stickered and a further 250 were flood damaged.

Now, 12 properties, some of which slipped from their foundations along College Rd, have now been removed to make way for the stopbank rebuild.

The properties were purchased by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and the land will be used to build a permanent stopbank.

Twisted steel and concrete from the busted stopbank remains onsite until those impacted by the floods consider what to do with it.

An independent Review, headed by Sir Michael Cullen was presented to the council and the public in October last year.

Earlier this month The Council’s Integrated Catchments General Manager, Chris Ingle, said the council was taking a coordinated approach to the recommendations.

"There are 29 recommendations in the Review Report and they cross a wide range of Council functions including different groups like Civil Defence, flood management, monitoring and data gathering, modelling, engineering, and community engagement.

"So we have set up an internal working group so we can coordinate that approach and keep track of the different pieces of work," he says.

The review also found some residents didn't understand the flood risk, and education will be a future focus for the council

April 6 will mark the first anniversary since the floods.

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