Feedback requested on FOSAL participation

Residents are being asked to provide feedback on council’s participation in the Future of Severely Affected Locations (FOSAL) programme.

This council-led programme provides financial support for properties severely affected by the January and February 2023 storms, including cyclones Gabrielle and Hale. The programme is completely voluntary for affected property owners.

Under the FOSAL programme, costs for voluntary buy outs and relocations of dwellings on Category 3 designated properties will be shared equally between central government and Far North District Council.

Category 3 properties are those assessed as unsafe for habitation because there is an ongoing intolerable risk to human life due to the danger of future flooding or land slips. Homes in these areas cannot remain or be rebuilt on their current sites.

Esther Powell, Climate Action and Resilience Manager, is positive about the opportunity to participate in FOSAL.

“The FOSAL programme supports our ongoing efforts to protect our communities from the increasing risks posed by extreme weather events,” she says. “The initiative aligns with our commitment to public safety and recovery from the North Island weather events of 2023.”

FNDC is encouraging residents to provide feedback on the council’s participation in the programme. Feedback can be provided through an online submission form or by submitting written responses via email, mail, or in person at FNDC service centres.

More information and submission details can be found here. The feedback period is open until 10 October 2024.