EROSION AT WAIKUKU

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29240, 25 June 1960, Page 7

EROSION AT WAIKUKU

Ashley River Threat To Domain Buildings

About a quarter of an acre of river bank at the mouth of the Ashley river adjoining the Waikuku Beach Domain was eroded away as a result of the fresh in the river after the heavy rain earlier this week. The caretaker at the domain (Mr T. Sykes) has anchored seven or eight trees which formerly stood in the area close to the bank so they form a partial breakwater to arrest the action of the current where it has been undermining the bank.

The surprising thing according to Mr Sykes is the damage occurred, not as might have been expected, while the fresh was at its peak on Wednesday, but on Thursday when the river - had almost returned to normal. The changing of the tides appeared to speed up the erosion at this point where the river bore in hardest when the tides were low. Four officers from the North Canterbury Catchment Board had inspected the area, said Mr Sykes, and wire ropes had been made available to the domain board to anchor the trees to others on the bank. A convenience block appeared to be in danger at one stage, said Mr Sykes and the river was now only seven yards away from it All the fittings had been removed in case the block should be washed away and a new convert*ience block will now be erected in a safer position.