Buller members of the West Coast Regional Council say criticism levelled at them by Mayor Jamie Cleine over the Westport flood was unfair and unfounded.
A car on Disraeli St was partly submerged after floods hit Westport last week.
Photo: Supplied/NZ Defence Force
Cleine said the regional councillors had been conspicuous by their absence during the crisis, and left him to front a public meeting where he was asked why the town did not have floodwalls to protect it.
Flood protection was the regional council s job - not the district council s, the mayor said.
The two Buller representatives on the council, John Hill and Laura Coll McLaughlin said they were disappointed with the mayor s comments, which implied they had not been on deck to help out with the flood response.
Lois Williams Local Democracy Reporter13:43, Jul 26 2021
CHRIS SKELTON / PETER MEECHEM
Westport is now moving into a recovery mode after recent flooding in the small coastal town.
Buller members of the West Coast Regional Council say criticism levelled at them by Buller Mayor Jamie Cleine over the Westport flood is unfair and unfounded. Cleine said the regional councillors had been conspicuous by their absence during the crisis, and left him to front a public meeting where he was asked why the town did not have floodwalls to protect it. Flood protection was the regional council s job – not the district council s, the mayor said.