Progress League Hears Report On Lake Outlet

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30793, 3 July 1965, Page 18

Progress League Hears Report On Lake Outlet

A committee of the Canterbury Progress League is planning field trips to Lake Ellesmere as part of its investigation into the possible reclamation of lakeside land. But it is unlikely that the league will pursue the question of a permanent lake outlet —which would increase the salinity of the lake, with adverse effects, said Mr H. H. Deans, the league’s chairman. Since the league’s last meeting, said Mr Deans, its irrigation and land-development committee had had meetings with Mr S. G. Hamblett, of the Ministry of Works (on engineering aspects of lake drainage), and with an officer of the Wildlife Division of the Department of Internal Affairs (on bird life on the lake). Discussions had so far been academic, said Mr Deans. It was now time for the committee to investigate the lake itself. “Members of the committee should go out to the lake and have a look at it,” he said. “They should have discussions with the commercial fishermen, and adjacent landowners.” All reports indicated the quality of lakeside land, Mr Deans said. It was good agricultural land, with very great potential. On the question of a permanent outlet for the lake, Mr Deans ,said that unless it was a one-way outlet it would have to have a barrier to prevent salt water entering the lake. Salinity would have adverse effects. “and I think the league would not go any further into this question.” There was still much to be

done before the league could come forward with any definite plan, he said. Mr Deans’s report was adopted without discussion.