Canterbury earthquake (Monday update)
Released 06 Sep 2010
Federated Farmers is now collating damage reports to farm infrastructure in North Canterbury
0800 FARMING (0800 327 646):
The 0800 number is now collating reports of damage and to gauge where urgent labour may be needed. Please note call volumes are heavy and we ask for your patience.
Damage to farm infrastructure:
Federated Farmers is now receiving reports of extensive physical damage to farm infrastructure relating to residential homes, pastures, fences, races//tracks, as well as ground water. Federated Farmers continues to be concerned about unseen damage to grain silos.
One call from a member, whose run off block is on the fault line, explained there was scarring up to 100 metres wide running through their property. The land has been pushed up three metres in some spots. Of concern are very large ground cracks in other parts rendering it basically unsafe for grazing. We have also received reports of extensive damage to groundwater. Infrastructure includes, naturally, your own home.
Federated Farmers wishes to know the extent of this damage and where it is located, so it can be collated and reported into both Civil Defence and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Please call 0800 327 646 (please also see the bottom of this advisory for the EQC's helpline number).
Do you need volunteer physical labour?:
Before Federated Farmers issues a call for volunteer labour, we wish to ascertain where this is needed (locality) and in what quantity. If you have need for physical labour please call 0800 327 646.
Rural Contractors available:
Federated Farmers has made contact with our affiliated member - Rural Contractors New Zealand. Farmers needing works done on their property, can contact them via their Freephone, which is 0800 424 266.
Civil Defence advisory:
Area: Kaikoura to Hinds. Upwards of 200mm of heavy north-west rain has fallen along the Alpine Divide as was predicted yesterday. The major alpine rivers of Canterbury (Rangitata, Rakaia, Waimakariri, Hurunui and Waiau) will rise sharply during the day and evening. People should keep clear of the beds of these rivers throughout the day.
In particular, because of earthquake damage, people should keep clear of the stopbanks of the Waimakariri River below SH1 and the Kaiapoi stopbanks on the west side in the vicinity of Courtenay Stream and also above the Williams Street Bridge on the south side.
River engineers are working with Civil Defence at regional and local level.
Bees update (new category):
Federated Farmers Bees Industry Group is asking anyone who has damage to hives or their honey processing plants to please contact 0800 327 646. We would also like to advise members to be very careful when checking apiary sites, especially in forestry blocks, as the roads may be unstable. The main issue now is the weather, as that may cause further damage. Any beekeeper with damaged equipment or in need of assistance, please contact either Graeme Albon on 021 025 20328 or John Hartnell on 021 578 754.
Grains update:
A text alert has been issued to all grains farmers to get grain vacs on standby, should the weather cause more damage to silos in the affected area. The risk is that some silos may appear intact but have been compromised at the foundation or in terms of water tightness. Any farmer with damaged silos needing to secure additional storage, can contact 0800 327 646. For further advice, please contact either Murray Rowlands on 027 242 9542 or David Clark 027 495 5202. Federated Farmers Grain & Seeds also wishes to express its sincere appreciation of the effort put in by the haulage companies.
Dairy update:
Dairy operations have been challenging but all herds were milking as of yesterday afternoon. Farmers needing advice can call DairyNZ acting regional leader for Canterbury, Simon Sankey, on 021 228 3446. Federated Farmers North Canterbury Dairy chairperson, Kieran Stone, is available to offer advice on 027 558 8917 as well as Federated Farmers Dairy vice-chairperson, Willy Leferink, on 03 307 2666.
Generators:
Federated Farmers now has a number of generators available and thought may be given to supporting rural businesses. Federated Farmers is in contact with Orion Energy about what support farmers may be able to offer and Orion's helpline has Federated Farmers 0800 327 646 number.
Off-farm grazing:
Federated Farmers is receiving offers for off-farm grazing. If you need or can offer assistance please call 0800 327 646.
Stock water:
If you need or can offer assistance with stock water please call 0800 327 646.
Electricity update for the Orion network:
There are about 3,500 customers without power but the weather is now posing a problem. Orion expects more faults to show up in the coming days and weeks due to the network's current fragility. Last evening, its goal was to reduce the numbers of customers without power to 1,000 by this evening, but the weather and new issues makes this challenging. Farmers should prepare for new power outages due to weather but Federated Farmers applauds the work of Orion staff and contractors.
Telecom service update:
Telecom's fixed line infrastructure continues to perform well, as are both mobile networks. Telecom's Christchurch offices will be closed on Monday 6 September with calls routed to other contact centres.
Can you offer accommodation to urban residents?:
We are still awaiting details from the Red Cross/Civil Defence, but Federated Farmers wishes to collate offers of accommodation to accommodate urban residents of Christchurch. If you can offer any assistance, please register that on 0800 327 646 (0800 FARMING).
Schools and the University of Canterbury:
A reminder that all schools (state and private) will remain closed tomorrow and the University of Canterbury is closed until Monday, 13 September.
Federated Farmers Canterbury Field Officers:
Federated Farmers Field Officers, Vicky O'Connor and Mark Burnside, are in contact with members and non-members. They are additional resource available to coordinate with the 0800 327 646 freephone number. Vicky O'Connor can be contacted on 027 432 0218 and Mark Burnside on 027 442 3355.
Reporting damage:
If you do have damage, please make contact with the EQC on 0800 326 243 and take photographs of any damaged property. If you consider any damage to be potentially life threatening, do not hesitate to contact 111.
If you can offer assistance or need assistance, please contact:
0800 327 646 (0800 FARMING)
For contacts in North Canterbury:
Neil Stott
Federated Farmers North Canterbury provincial president
Phone: 03 318 8577
Mobile: 027 355 4636
Murray Rowlands
Federated Farmers North Canterbury Grain & Seeds chairperson
Mobile: 027 242 9542
Kieran Stone
Federated Farmers North Canterbury Dairy chairperson
Mobile: 027 558 8917
Simon Sankey
DairyNZ acting regional leader for Canterbury
Mobile: 021 228 3446
Dugald McLean
Federated Farmers North Canterbury Meat & Fibre chairperson
Phone: 03 313 5442
Graeme Albon
Federated Farmers Bees
021 025 20328
Wider Federated Farmers contacts:
Don Nicolson
Federated Farmers President
Phone: 03 216 7405
Mobile: 027 226 6331
Conor English
Federated Farmers Chief Executive
Mobile: 027 441 0786
David Rose
Federated Farmers Adverse Events spokesperson
Phone: 03 235 2619
Mobile: 027 414 2573
John Hartnell
Federated Farmers Bees chairperson
021 578 754.
Willy Leferink
Federated Farmers Dairy vice-chairperson
Phone: 03 307 2666
Mobile: 021 796 037
David Clark
Federated Farmers Mid Canterbury Grain & Seeds chairperson
Phone: 03 303 6132
Mobile: 027 495 5202
Jeanette Maxwell
Federated Farmers Meat & Fibre vice-chairperson
Phone: 03 302 8860
Mobile: 027 357 4464
