4 November 2024
It’s hard not to feel the air of sadness that hangs around Geoff and Raewynn Foreman’s Fergusson Drive property despite the clear progression of work to restore and protect it.
The Waikato grandparents thought they had found their perfect property when they moved from Te Aroha to Gisborne. It was by the river so their kayaks would be put to good use, the garden had the bones of all they loved including natives and fruit trees with room for vegetable beds, and it was just down the road from their daughter and grandchildren.
But all that changed in February 2023 when Cyclone Gabrielle rolled her way through the district. Their house and garage were extensively flooded, and they lost many precious possessions thanks to the metre of water from the Taruheru River that quietly eked its way into all corners of their home.
Their property is one of the first to be lifted in Fergusson Drive under the Future of Severely Affected Land 2P mitigation programme which is funded through Council with central government money. It’s been a long time coming but the Foreman’s say they are grateful to see progress.
The home has been lifted about two metres off the ground. The inside has already been stripped and will be plastered and painted once the lifting is complete. The beautiful matai floors have been sanded too.
“The Council have tried their best and been so understanding and empathetic during an incredibly challenging time,” says Raewynn. “We are so grateful for Council’s help through this. It’s good to see this underway. We really liked living in this street – it is full of kind and caring neighbours.”
A few weeks before Cyclone Gabrielle, a weather event saw water come up under the deck and Raewynn said she could hear it gurgling in the bath. “So we were very aware of that happening but during Gabrielle I didn’t hear anything,” she says. “It wasn’t until I got out of bed at 2am to go to the toilet that I discovered water everywhere. It happened so fast and quietly. It was quite bewildering.”
It didn’t take long for it to be above her knees in depth. Raewynn and Geoff spoke to the fire brigade through the window after seeing them working their way down the street and opted to stay put until morning when the true extent of the damage was revealed.
“Everyone was so wonderful,” says Raewynn.
Neighbours and strangers turned up to help the couple empty their home. The furniture and appliances were replaced, thanks to their insurance that had only been renewed 10 days before, but they are sad to have lost precious photos and other family treasures. Geoff meticulously cleaned the silt off his shell collection and sorted back into scientific order to match his catalogue before being rehoused again.
“We did love living here,” says Geoff. “We enjoyed the birds and our garden too. It’s great to see Dawson Building Company doing such a great job on the house."
Since February 2023 the couple has been to plenty of meetings and learnt more about Geotech reports and consents than they care to remember but now they can finally see light at the end of the tunnel.
“It has been a very long process, over many months,” says Raewynn. “Our poor house just looks so sad. It will be nice to see it finished.”