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The size of the hail that hit Timaru in a storm in November 2019, causing more than $170 million in damage.
Multi-million dollar insurance payouts for fires and a storm were big news in The Timaru Herald during November, writes Doug Sail in an ongoing review of 2020. The insurance bill for Timaru’s 2019 hailstorm reached $170.98m in November making it New Zealand’s costliest weather event this century. The Insurance Council of New Zealand’s (ICNZ) figures released a few days before the one-year anniversary of the storm, listed the hailstorm in the top five of the most expensive natural disasters since it began keeping records in 1968.
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Government funding of $11.6m was awarded to the Timaru District Council s Theatre Royal upgrade and Heritage precinct project. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, was in Timaru to confirm the Government support for the $23m project which ‘met the criteria of the Government’s ‘shovel-ready’ programme, in that it was ready to proceed and would create jobs. ‘‘The design and construction of the theatre upgrade and new (museum) facility is estimated to directly employ 155-210 people.’’ A planned $7.5m redevelopment of Alpine Energy Stadium received the biggest handout from the Timaru District Council’s stimulus fund. The Fraser Park Community Trust, which runs the facility, received $900,000 of the $1.85m available as the council culled 20 funding applications back to 10 successful projects.
A St John spokesperson said it did not respond. Alpine Energy chief executive Andrew Tombs said a roadside pole was struck causing damage to an overhead low voltage service main. A team of contractors had attended, he said.
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Contractors work to restore power to Bridge Rd in Washdyke at one of two incidents dealt with in South Canterbury on Monday morning. Meanwhile, power was cut to the Washdyke Fire Station on Bridge Rd early Monday morning after a fuse protection device just outside the station failed at 7am. A Fenz spokesman said the station was powered by a generator during the power cut.
“Damage to an underground cable was found to be the cause,” Tombs said. “The outage only affected the high school, and we were quickly able to restore power to the site by rerouting the power. We are currently [as of Monday] making repairs to the damaged cable.” The concert, which had raised about $900 for the Salvation Army’s food bank, featured singing talent from South Cantabrians of all ages, highland dancing, and a brass band. George said the school’s 400-seat auditorium was packed with carolers while others, including rest home residents and people from Australia, caught the concert online.
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