INVESTIGATION OF ESTUARY

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29784, 29 March 1962, Page 17

INVESTIGATION OF ESTUARY

Progress League Approves

The Christchurch Drainage Board’s decision to investigate proposals to improve the Estuary was welcomed by the Canterbury Progress League when it met last evening. The publication of the board’s report would be awaited with much interest, members said.

“The Estuary was for many years nobody’s baby.” said Mr B. J. Drake. “Now it seems it is under the control of the Drainage Board. It is toe feeling of one or two members of toe league that the league might take the opportunity to offer its services as a co-ordinating body.”

The league might call a joint meeting of various bodies to see if something might be done about the Estuary, Mr Drake suggested. “We fully appreciate toe difficulties of the Drainage Board, and anything said here tonight is intended to be helpful to the board, and not critical of it,” said Mr Drake. The Estuary was under toe control of the City Council, but the Drainage Board was interested in the Estuary, said Mr R. C. Neville, who is a member of toe Drainage Board. Any work toe board did there was subject to the activities of the City Council. and toe Marine Department as an over-all authority. If public opinion were to be guided by a public meeting, the direction would have to be towards the City Council. Mr Drake: If it were necessary to fill in half the Estuary, the Drainage Board would do it?

Mr Neville: We would do it, but subject to toe City Council’s approval.