8. Question No. 8—Rural CommunitiesANNA LORCK (Labour—Tukituki) to the Minister for Rural CommunitiesQuestion No. 8—Rural Communities8. ANNA LORCK (Labour—Tukituki) to the Minister for Rural Communities: What recent reports has he received on Government support to cyclone-affected rural communities?Hon KIERAN McANULTY (Minister for Rural Communities): I receive regular updates on the Government's work to support rural communities to recover from Cyclone Gabrielle. I can confirm that as of 6 June 2023 $62.8 million has been paid out in recovery grants to farmers and growers for 5474 impacted properties. There are also specific recovery projects that have been funded through a fully committed $4 million mobilisation fund. These grants have gone towards immediate cost of recovery following the cyclone. I acknowledge that many of these farmers and growers continue to do it tough so I'm regularly meeting with them to get on-the-ground perspectives on what further support is needed.Anna Lorck: What projects have been supported through the $4 million mobilisation fund?Hon KIERAN McANULTY: I've been advised that the fund has been fully committed to projects covering aerial surveys mental wellbeing recovery advice logistics and reimbursement of costs of urgent response activity. Since the start of March Operation Muster has facilitated the transport of more than 45000 livestock off Hawke's Bay farms left cut off following Cyclone Gabrielle. The areas covered include Patoka Rissington Dartmoor Puketitiri Tutira Putorino and Waikoau. More than 6000 tonnes of critical supplies have been delivered to cut-off rural communities in Tairāwhiti but through Operation Reach the support is ensuring vital supplies get to farmers and growers left isolated by severed transport links.Anna Lorck: What further support has been announced through Budget 2023?Hon KIERAN McANULTY: Budget 2023 allocated a further $35.4 million to support the recovery of rural communities. This is broken down into a $5.4 million fund for the North Island Weather Event Isolated Rural Communities Recovery Fund and $30 million for the North Island Weather Event Time-Critical Primary Industries Recovery Fund. The Ministry for Primary Industries is seeking expressions of interest from industry partners including industry good organisations community groups and Māori entities that can provide supplies and services in affected regions.Anna Lorck: How will the $5.4 million isolated rural communities fund be used?Hon KIERAN McANULTY: This funding will be used for activities which deliver support for impacted rural communities including support for marae or other suitable facilities in communities to provide hub locations and supporting the hub's operations; funding community groups and support networks to coordinate community-led recovery and increase community members' access to the support needed for their recovery; helping community groups to cover the logistical cost of operating in severely impacted regions; the development of iwi-led wellbeing initiatives supporting community hubs to host regular community clinics and events; and the delivery of specialised support and information resources support for maintenance of telecommunications links supply of materials and equipment to community hubs and movement of community coordinators and specialist advisers into and around isolated regions.Anna Lorck: What support is available for the management and removal of silt and debris in Hawke's Bay?Hon KIERAN McANULTY: Applications for the sediment and silt recovery fund have opened today. Available funding includes grants of up to $40000 and further funding of up to $210000 on a 50:50 cost-share basis. Applications can be made directly to the Hawke's Bay Regional Council.