Doubts Raised On Bank Scheme For Selwyn

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30823, 7 August 1965, Page 21

Doubts Raised On Bank Scheme For Selwyn

Proposals by three landowners to pay £1250 towards the estimated £6OOO cost of building 91 chains of stopbank on the Selwyn river above Coe’s ford were queried by members at a meeting yesterday of the North Canterbury Catchment Board.

The board was told that the landowners were ready to pay their share now, provided the bank was put up to 30,000 cusec flood standard, and the rivers control committee reported that the staff had been asked to produce a report with costs. The committee said that it was understood that if a general scheme were undertaken the contributions would be repaid. Mr E. J. Stalker said that the three farmers were affected only by floods in excess of 20,000 cusecs, and would contribute only on the basis of a 30,000 cusec bank. Ryan’s bank, opposite, was to 30,000 cusecs standard. The chief engineer (Mr E. B. Dalmer) said that the 20,000 cusec bank would cost about £4500. After members had suggested that the board should have another look at the proposal, Mr T. W. Preston said: “We want to find out what effect this will have on other properties.” On the motion of the chairman (Mr R. M. D. Johnson), the question was referred back to the committee. Smelly.—“ Here’s an old one,” said Mr Johnson when the board agreed, on the rivers control committee’s recommendation, to draw the at-

tention of the Health Department to “unsavoury odours” surrounding the Kaiapoi river in certain areas.

Flood Scheme.—“A very high cost for a very small scheme that at best will be of a temporary nature,” said the Department of Agriculture’s soil conservation officer (Mr D. R. Wilkie) on a recommendation to refer engineering proposals for a flood protection scheme for Little river, on the upper Rakaia, to the landowners concerned and the Ashburton County Council. The recommendation was adopted and it was decided to tell those concerned that if they agreed to the scheme, a special rating area would be needed. Bridge Approach. The board agreed to give its staff power to act in providing access to the Mandeville swing bridge on the Kaiapoi river, where the stopbank has been raised. Nassella. The reserves supervisor (Mr R. G. Rains) was authorised to put on the needed men to complete the coverage of the board’s nassella tussock area.