Dan Gordon: Waimakariri Mayor gives updates on storm preparation and damage in the area

Waimakariri Mayor Dan Gordon joined John MacDonald to get the latest from their district on storm preparation and damage.

There are also reports that people set off fireworks in the area last night. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Canterbury Mornings podcast with John McDonald
from News Talks, AB.

Speaker 2 (00:13):
Up the Road and my Marke at Eddie. Dan Gordon
is a mere morning Dan, Good morning John. I haven't
spoken in since the elections. First of all, congratulations for
your election.

Speaker 3 (00:22):
Oh thank you, John, appreciate that it's great to be
back and representing our community. That we're into work as
usual and unfortunately whether events like this become business as
usual for councils and I'm thinking of our community especially today.
Let's thank you for the call, pleasure.

Speaker 2 (00:40):
What's the situation in your area.

Speaker 3 (00:43):
Well, obviously we're in the under a state of emergency,
as is all throughout Canterbury. We've seen and I've just
been in our emergency Operations center which has been stood up.
We've seen power outages in Ashley, Gorge End in the
Lees Valley. I'm told at this point that that may
well take several days to restore, so Main Power who

(01:07):
other lines company are working through that. At the moment.
Our staff are monitoring roads. Haven't had any major feedback
at this stage, but our message one hundred percent is
that people please do their best to stay off the
roads and avoid all non essential travel, you know what,
I'm advisers. We haven't seen the worst of this, and

(01:29):
there may be gus in isolated parts, but that could
well pick up. So it's still the prediction is of
severe winds up to one hundred and forty k's and
that's a forecast between nine and four to day and
we're just keeping an eye on that. Obviously, we're connected
through Canterbury Civil Defense because there's a civil defense emergency

(01:51):
across all of Canterbury. I was in touch with the
Minister last night and we're certainly appreciative for his leadership
in supporting us through this time. Obviously it's a bit
of an unusual one because a lot of us as
MEAs haven't mean well, we have meant and yet so
to have a minister's support that avoids all their administrative
hessel is appreciative. And I'm keeping very close to our

(02:14):
staff through this. We're also keeping close to main power.
We say to people, please check our website, Facebook, got
the issues, phone our eight hundred service. We've got customer
service staff on Stanley to support people through this.

Speaker 2 (02:29):
All right, when are you going to be sworn in?

Speaker 3 (02:31):
By the way, Well, I'm officially sworn in next Wednesday.
That's what's what scheduled at the moment. There was a
talk yesterday that might be brought forward, but there wasn't
a need because really the functions still continue and we
you know, while i'm mare elect, I'm experienced at this,
and I work with between our chief executive and our staff,

(02:55):
and I do plant myself and the Emergency Operations Center
through this to keep a brief time, really keen to
make sure our community is supported through this, as as
our elected council, who were briefed yesterday afternoon.

Speaker 2 (03:08):
Okay, I'm not sure if you're aware, but the Emergency
Management Minister told us early earlier this hour that fans
had to deal overnight in christ Church with people lighting
fires in their backyards. Do you know if there was
any of that behavior in one good lady.

Speaker 3 (03:23):
I did see that there were on Facebook, just reports
of some fireworks. I just really say that people please
think of others and don't be selfish and don't be stupid.
This is not a time for that because that presents
severe risk. A few years back, three years ago, there
was an instant down at our beaches where unfortunately someone

(03:45):
had lit something and it ended up with a major
fire down there. We do not want that on our heads.
We're dealing with enough. We just need our community safe
and protected, and I say to our public just just
become We've got this, We've got it under control where
we're working through to support you through this time as
best as we can. And if you can and use

(04:07):
our Irish hundred service, check our website for updates. And
to those who may be thinking of doing other things,
please avoid it if you just put your not only
your own life at harm, but others.

Speaker 2 (04:18):
All the best today. I appreciate your time. Thanks Jain,
Thanks John is twenty one to ten. That's why mukadeni
mayor Dan Gordon.

Speaker 1 (04:26):
For more from Category Mornings with John McDonald. Listen live
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