They still have no idea when the twin bridges across the Waitaki River linking the two communities will reopen.
But they are adamant they want new bridges as soon as possible.
Last night, about 150 people met in a woolshed at Hakataramea.
Some walked across the bridges, closed since 8.30pm on Tuesday because of flood damage to at least one pier, from Kurow to be picked up by mini buses on the other side.
The meeting unanimously called on Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean and the Waimate and Waitaki District Councils to liaise urgently with Minister of Transport Steven Joyce about building two bridges.
Construction of the two-lane bridges to replace the 129-year-old single-lane wooden structures is scheduled to start next year, with completion by 2014 at an estimated cost of $15 million.
New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) assets manager for South Canterbury Colin Hey said they still needed resource consent and funding approval.
That was not the answer those at the meeting wanted.
They are frustrated that the bridges are closed when flooding occurs.
The present closure is causing major disruption to the communities, especially Hakataramea.
This was brought home in no uncertain terms to Mr Hey and local government representatives at the meeting.
To get to Kurow, Hakataramea people face a one-way trip of 160km via the State Highway 1 bridge at Glenavy, instead of 2km across the twin bridges. Then there is an equally long trip home.
The bridges have been opened for pedestrians and cyclists and arrangements made by emergency services to cover the Hakataramea community.
Hakataramea people are offering transport to Kurow's constable Craig Bennett at a phone call, and a helicopter is on stand-by.
The Kurow Medical Centre is collecting people for medical treatment after they walk across the bridge and the centre has a car containing medical equipment on the Hakataramea side for emergencies.
A fire tanker has been put in Hakataramea.
Issues include getting children to school and preschool, getting children's car seats and children across the bridges, particularly in the rain, getting fuel for vehicles (nearest service station is 61km away at Waimate), getting stock to sales and coping with contestants for this week's Hakataramea dog trials who then go on to Omarama.
Rubbish collection is an issue, as is lost income for businesses and difficulties for agricultural contractors in a busy part of the season.
Waimate district councillor Peter McIlraith, who represents the area, said there was "incredible self help" in the district, but the message needed to get to a higher level.
Demands for compensation from the NZTA or financial assistance to overcome some of the difficulties fell on deaf ears.
Mr Hey said the NZTA did not "100% guarantee 100% of state highways would be open 100% of the time".
There were no assurances about when the bridges would reopen, apart from Mr Hey discussing the possibility of them being able to take "light vehicles".
Mr Hey said the damage to the bridge needed to be assessed, estimating it could cost $350,000 to fix.
That could not be done until the river dropped to 500cumecs.
At 5pm yesterday, it was still at 1100cumecs.
When it would drop depended on the weather, not helped by forecasts of up to 70mm of rain in the Waitaki headwaters. david.bruce@odt.co.nz
