Selwyn Riverbed Rise Worries Council

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31519, 6 November 1967, Page 21

Selwyn Riverbed Rise Worries Council

Concern at a build-up in the bed of the Selwyn River was expressed in a letter from the Ellesmere County Council. received at a meeting of the North Canterbury Catchment Board on Friday. Mr O. R. Chamberlain, the county representative on the board, said that the bed, as shown by board cross-sections, had risen by as much as Ilin, and that this meant less protection at a critical point on the river. The Chief Engineer (Mr E. B. Dalmer) said he had no comment to make other than that while the Selwyn’s bed had risen in one place, it had fallen in others. Aggregation was common on other rivers, particularly the Waimakariri. The board authorised Mr Dalmer to reply to the council. The chairman (Mr R. M. D Johnson) said the view had been put that rates should be increased so that more could be spent on Selwvn flood protection, but a section of ratepavers had been paying rates for years and had no w.ork done. Mr A. T. Bell referred to the growth of broom in the riverbed, and suggested that the council should control it under the Noxious Weeds Act. nerhans bv requiring land owners to clear It was prob able that freeholds included the riverbed The board agreed to ar range a meeting with the council to discuss rating. The Plains Rabbit Board was given permission to burn off gorse in the riverbed

11 above the Main South Road bridge. i Approved.—Approval was ■ received for work to be done : on the Rakaia River at Dorie • to protect Mr M. R. Dolan's property. The total cost, at , $2 for $1 subsidy, was esti- . mated at 52845. i New Road.—“We should support this 100 per cent, but want the road to go in the right place,” said Mr Johnson , when it was agreed to make recommendations to the Malvern County Council on ac- , cess for a company which , wants to make a road along I the Porter River to open up I a sports area. i