More targeted support has been announced for east Christchurch residents, who are entering their ninth month of putting up with a horrible stench from a fire-damaged wastewater treatment plant.
The Christchurch City Council has announced a further $180,000 in a new well-being response plan that aims to provide more support for schools and targeted help for residents still affected by the stench.
The additional funding follows the council's $1 million community support package announced in May to help residents living in the immediate vicinity of the fire-damaged treatment plant, including a payment of $200 to residents within a geographical area.
In November 2021, the Christchurch Wastewater Treatment Plant in Bromely went up in flames, destroying its two trickling filters which are used to filtrate the city's sewage.
Since the fire, residents have had to put up with a putrid stench that they claim has infiltrated their homes and had physical health effects.
Acting Mayor Andrew Turner said the additional funds will enable the council, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, to extend support to more schools in the area.
"Until now the support has been focused on schools and early childhood centres close to the plant, but we are now further extending our support to education providers in south New Brighton and Southshore," Turner said.
He said the funding will also help develop a science education programme in partnership with the Ministry of Education to teach students about how the wastewater treatment plant works and how it was impacted by the fire.
The response plan also aims to remove any barriers people may face in accessing health and wellbeing services.
The council said the work to remove the fire-damaged material from the trickling filters at the plant is now entering its final stages.
Drone footage last week showed contractors have only around 25 percent of the material left to remove from the remaining trickling filter.
