Flood Protection In Selwyn Area

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30847, 4 September 1965, Page 22

Flood Protection In Selwyn Area

The ratepayers concerned had agreed to pay towards the cost of a £3700 stop-bank to handle 15,000 cusec floods in the Selwyn river near Coe’s ford, the chairman (Mr R. M. D. Johnson) told the North Canterbury Catchment Board yesterday.

He said that objections to the scheme had been received from three landowners downstream.

“They should realise that the proposed bank will be of the same height as the one on their own frontages,” said Mr A. T. Bell. Mr E. J. Stalker said he regretted that the board was not able to give full protection to people who suffered severely in floods. The work, however, could be the start of a scheme that would handle all floods. The board decided to tell the landowners that it would ask for £3 to £1 subsidy on the work instead of the usual £2 to £l, and meet £3OO for floodgates out of local rates. Not Approved.—The rivers control committee was satisfied that the proposal would lead to dangerous erosion, said Mr Bell, commenting on a Wairewa County Council scheme to straighten the Opuahau stream below Church road at Little River. The

board agreed to tell the council that the proposal could not be approved, much less recommended for subsidy.

Cust Scheme.—“We think this is too expensive, but the idea is to pass the arithmetic to the council to get its views,” said Mr Johnston, when the board decided to supply costs for upper Cust river flood protection to the Oxford County Council. New Bridge.—The board approved of Malvern County Council plans for a new Hawkins river bridge on the Wad-dington-Homebush road. The effect of the bridge, it was stated, would be to keep the road open in floods. Weedicide.—The board accepted what were described as competitive tenders for supply of weedicide 2, 2DPA at 4s 6d a lb, 2,4 D at 35s 6d a gallon, paraquat at Ils 6d a gallon and 2,4, 5T at 60s a gallon. Progress Report.—The chief engineer (Mr E. B. Dalmer) said that on the £32,000 river improvement contract on the north side of the Waimakariri opposite Stewart’s Gully 80 per cent, or 118,000 cubic yards, of material had been moved or lowered and miles of stopbank completed, leaving a quarter mile to be done.