SCOUT CAMP NEAR RIVER

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29016, 3 October 1959, Page 7

SCOUT CAMP NEAR RIVER

Catchment Board Concerned Because of the danger from floods, concern was expressed by members of the North Canterbury Catchment Board yesterday at the continued use by the Boy Scouts’ Association of Koanui Park, on a reserve on the north bank of the Waimakariri river, and the proposal to erect a permanent building there. The board will advise the Boy Scouts’ Association that it cannot recommend the erection of the proposed building at Koanui Park because of the unstable nature of the country and also because in the event of floods the property would be between the Old South branch and the Waimakariri river. It was also decided that its representatives meet the association and discuss ■ the provision of a more suitable 1 site.

Mr A. T. Bell, chairman of the rivers’ control committee, said the Boy Scouts’ Association had applied for permission to erect a substantial building, ultimately to cost £4OOO to £5OOO, on this reserve. The committee felt that the situation was a dangerous one. and the association should be told so. “We have given the scouts rights to the park but we would be failing in our duty if we did not only discourage them from building but also warn them of the danger from the unstable nature of the country,” said Mr R. M. D. Johnson, chairman of the board.

Mr F. L. Wright said the position had altered since the board gave the scouts the use of the land. In the 1957-58 flood the scouts would have got out along the railway line, but if there was a similar flood now he did not know how they would get out. for the line of the railway had been altered between kaiapoi and Chaneys. If a flash flood came he thought fathers and mothers of scouts at the park would be in a panic. Dr. G. Jobberns said it looked to him as if the association and the board had got themselves into a position of some difficulty. The board had given the scouts access to the area and now the board was not only discouraging the scouts from building but also thought it was dangerous for them to use the ground.

Mr Wright said he had been worried over the matter even since the 1957-58 flood. He had thought of approaching the association but he knew the matter would come before the board. Mr Johnson said it was quite clear the board should advise the association of the position and meet it to see if a more suitable area could be found.