STOPBANK BROKEN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 67, Issue 17, 31 October 1946, Page 7

STOPBANK BROKEN

ASHBURTON RIVER AT WINCHMORE FIVE-FOOT BANK REQUIRED (Own Reporter) “The break occurred on Ferguson’s property and water is coming down in the old course of the river,” said Mr G. R. Milward (engineer), at the meeting of the South Canterbury Catchment Board yesterday), when the Ashburton County Council advised that at its last meeting Mr James Bland had told the council the Ashburton River had broken across a two-foot stopbank which had been washed away for a distance of a chain. Consideration to the necessary repairs was requested.

Mr Milward said that such breaks were likely to happen very often, as in this case there had only been a fresh in the river.

The whole problem in the area, said Mr S. P. Taylor, was that the Public Works Department allowed for a twofoot stopbank. A lot of the land was riverbed, but there was also good land involved. The Catchment Board had maintained that the bank should be five feet high, but the position was where the money was going to come from. Mr Bland had said that ratepayers were prepared to meet the cost of the higher bank, but when individual ratepayers were approached it was a different story. If they started repairing the two-foot bank they would be creating a precedent. It would probably have to be done frequently. The area concerned could not stand the cost of the five-foot bank, said Mr Taylor. The chairman (Dr. P. R. Woodhouse) asked whether the board was justified in spending a large amount out of the Ashburton River Maintenance account on repairs, or whether it was advisable to leave the question until a special rating could be mad© to build the higher bank. If repairs were made to the bank the amount expended would have to be limited, said Mr Taylor. Mr H. G. Kemp said that if repairs were made it should be limited to the amount raised through rates obtained from the area in question. It was decided that the problem be investigated, and that pending the construction of a bigger bank, if possible repairs should be made on the basis of rates received from the area. Pilot Channel Requested “I was disturbed to see a report that your work on the Ashburton River was finished. It seems a pity to spend to many thousands clearing the fairway of willows and then not giving the river a lead through,” said a letter from Mr F. G. Oldfield, Winchmore. “Where the river touches my property is a case in point. A good job was made of the clearing, but owing to the huge deposits of shingle the river is unable to run in the channel. It needs a pilot channel to give it a start. I understand that a promise was given that this would be done. At present the river is running hard against my farm, and' is a great danger to the banks I have already erected. Would you kindly go into this matter and do what you can to help me.” It was decided that an inspection be carried out as soon as possible.