PROTECTING HERMITAGE

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30028, 12 January 1963, Page 10

PROTECTING HERMITAGE

New Stopbank To Re Built

(From Our Own Reporter)

UMARU, January 11. It was understandable and justifiable that the Hermitage, valued ait £750,000 should be adequately protected from a potentir'ly dangerous stream, said the Ministry of Works acting resident engineer for MidCanterbury and South Canterbury (Mr E. R. L. O’Toole) today, reporang that work had begun at the request of the Tourist Hotel Corporation on the construction of a third stopbank some five chains below the second one at Kitchener stream.

Mr O’Toole said that although the existing stopbanks were satisfactory, it was felt there should be an additional safeguard. Originally there were three stopbanks, but after damage caused by an avalanche in September, 1960 the upper two were amalgamated into one major one, and the remaining lower one was retained to provide secondary protection. “Because of the restricted space in the present channel there is little that can be done with heavy plant to maintain it. Heavy boulders are continually coming down from the upper reaches, and it is considered that the most economical way to give the added protection is to construct a third stopbank,” Mr O’Toole said. The stopbank will be 15 to 20 chains long, and it will ensure that any flows are diverted on the north side of the Kitchener fan. A heavy bulldozer will be operating for about a fortnight forming the stopbank out of available material from the riverbed.